Republic file photo The local Salvation Army is hoping for an uptick in donations to the Red Kettle campaign this Christmas season.
The nonprofit Columbus Salvation Army, which operates a sizable food pantry and helps with other needs such as utilities, is $67,000 behind in its Christmas Red Kettle Campaign.
Part of that campaign, which constitutes the local office’s annual budget except for salaries, ends at noon Dec. 24. But mailed donations can be accepted until Jan. 31, according to its leaders.
Capt. Amy Tompkins said she “would at least like to get to $70,000 by Christmas Eve.”
The collected total stood at $43,611 at noon Thursday. The overall goal is $110,000 to support the food pantry serving about 1,000 households weekly, rent and utilities assistance, Bags of Hope groceries to shut-ins, summer camps for youth, weekly youth, men’s and women’s activities at its church at 2525 Illinois Ave., and more.
Tompkins has regularly praised Bartholomew County residents as caring and generous, not only with financial donations, but with gift-buying for its annual Angel Tree for children and teens at Christmas.
One of the problems with the campaign has been the limited number of bell ringers available, with only five or six active kettles most days. Tompkins said that the most-staffed kettles are at Walmart at 2025 Merchant Mile, Hobby Lobby at 1149 N. National Road, and Rural King at 2985 N. National Road, all in Columbus.
She added that the current total is the lowest collected total this late in the Christmas season since she came to Columbus five years ago.
Tompkins said warmer weather has been a challenge, since most every local Salvation Army leader since the 1990s has said that colder days seem to promote more giving than warmer temperatures.
Also, kettles are not available on Sundays.
“We want to continue to respect the Sabbath,” Tompkins said.
One new ringer was a big help last week. Howard Tucker, 74, donned a Santa suit and rang from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Walmart at 735 Whitfield Drive.
“That has been on my bucket list,” he said.
He raised a bucket load of money — $900, about triple the normal amount for that time, according to Tompkins.
“Plus, we won hearts,” he said. People stopped to take selfies with him. Children hugged him.
“I had a ball,” said Tucker who begins playing Christmas music right after Halloween. “It was the highlight of my year. I just love children and the whole spirit of Christmas.”
He plans to ring at the same location today, and he encourages others to volunteer to ring if they can.
One 4-year-old youngster squeezed him and asked an earnest question: “Santa, are you real?”
“Sweetie, the spirit of Christmas is very real,” he said with a smile.
Tompkins believes that. As the kettle campaign continues, she hopes that others believe it, too.
