Salvation Army gets off to ringing start for holidays

“It’s one of the best times of year, but also one of the busiest”.

The celebration began this afternoon at their annual luncheon, emceed by KRDO NewsChannel 13’s Jon Karroll.

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign got its start in 1891 in San Francisco when a Salvation Army captain despaired over how many citizens were going hungry during the holidays.

After the hour of bell ringing for donations ended, the Fremont team of Mayor Bill Harrison and newly appointed Vice Mayor Lily Mei, who filled in for the late arriving Harrison, collected nearly $1,500 of the $2,259 total, according to Tri-Cities Corps’ Lt. David Kim. It helps with our transition housing, with our 200 bed homeless shelter. The 2015 campaign goal for Rockland is $80,000 with collections scheduled to take place at local malls, grocery and department stores. Pictured are Joel Arivett (left) and Ryan Cutler with Arvest, Salvation Army board members Becky Callaway, Frank Campbell, Carol Allen and Letha Phillips, Jamie Duke and Vanessa Zavala with Arvest, Major Linda Payton and Salvation Army board members LeeAnna Richardson and Kevin Solomon.

The Salvation Army is always looking for new volunteers to help ring bells and raise money.