Doing the Most Good…Locally

Maybe you’ve noticed them – the brightly colored paper kettles that line the walls of The Store during the holiday season. They’re cheery, vibrant, and festive, depicting the iconic Salvation Army Red Kettle that we’ve all grown accustomed to seeing outside of the grocery store or in the mall this time of year.

But what is the significance of these pieces of paper proudly posted by The Store Associates for all to see? You can probably guess that this is The Store’s unique version of the Red Kettle fundraising effort that supports the Salvation Army for the past 7 holiday seasons. That’s great, but how big of a deal is it? After all, what difference could some colorful pieces of paper make?

Well, the important thing isn’t the slips of paper themselves, but instead what they represent. Look closely and you’ll see that each Paper Kettle is printed with either $1, $5, or $10 increments and displays the signature of the donator. Every Paper Kettle symbolizes and celebrates a donation as well as the individual who generously gave to support the cause.

What does the money support, you might ask? The Salvation Army exists to meet human needs in many forms. Providing shelter, supplying food, and supporting veterans are a few of the well-known deeds performed by the Salvation Army. They do much more, however, including educating children, helping disaster survivors, battling human trafficking, and fighting to prevent domestic abuse.

The Store has been supporting and promoting the Paper Kettle Campaign since 2013 and shows no sign of slowing down. To date, $98,871.31 has collectively been raised with the support of The Store Guests through this effort, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Salvation Army. The coolest part, though? The money raised at each The Store location stays local. This means funds are given to the Salvation Army Center nearest each convenience store. By doing this, The Store and generous Guests are helping relieve needs in their local areas.

The 2019 Paper Kettle Campaign is underway and continues until December 31st. Next time you stop in, please consider donating in support of the Salvation Army. After all, it is the season of giving!