By KEN de la BASTIDE
Starting today, a familiar sight will return to the Kokomo area as the Salvation Army kicks off the annual Red Kettle Campaign to raise funds for local residents in need.
Volunteers will be stationed at various locations ringing bells to remind people to contribute to the campaign, which continues through Dec. 24.
Wayne Westgate, operations coordinator for Kroger, announced Thursday at the Dixon Road store that the company is hoping to help the Salvation Army raise $1 million on the national level.
“Last year we raised 8 percent of the Red Kettle total,” Westgate said. “We’re hoping to increase that by 36 percent.”
Westgate said the Kroger stores will take an active role in the Red Kettle Campaign. Kroger urges people in the community to join with the grocery store chain and Salvation Army to meet the need.
“The need is greater than ever before,” he said.
Salvation Army Major Dave Moffitt said the organization has been a vital part of the Howard County community since 1903.
Moffitt said the economic downturn in past few years have hit the Howard County community hard, but it has intensified the Salvation Army’s commitment.
The Kroger store on Dixon Road was the top Red Kettle location in Kokomo in 2008 with the Maple Crest store number two, he said.
Moffitt said the Salvation Army saw a 97 percent increase in applications for people in need in August and is expecting a 30 percent increase in requests for assistance in 2010.
“At Christmas we serve more people than at any time of the year,” he said.
The 2009 local campaign goal is $233,000. Moffitt said last year the Red Kettle Campaign raised $223,000 or 98 percent of the goal.
The Salvation Army expects to assist 1,300 area families and 700 senior citizens, according to Moffitt.
“Money we raise through the Christmas holiday helps us get through the slow times of the year,” he said.
Kokomo Police Chief Rob Baker, representing Mayor Greg Goodnight, said the Salvation Army performs a great service to those in need in the community.
“We will do whatever we can,” Baker said of the Red Kettle campaign. “This helps our community. We encourage citizens to give whatever they can.”
