News : Salvation Army Has Successful Red Kettle Campaign Again in 2021

Back of the 1897 Silver Dollar

One of two coins worth more than their face value, donated to the Salvation Army - 1897 Silver Dollar

Salvation Army Has Successful Red Kettle Campaign Again in 2021.

We appreciate the generosity of our community, and the daily donations of coins, $1, or $5 and even $10's and $20's that make up the bulk of our Red Kettle donations. Even the coins add up to about $50 plus dollars on most days. We are also blessed with some checks anywhere from $100 to $1,000 from a family or an organization," Salvation Army member Julie Hansen noted.

A gold coin was received on December 16th, 2021. The one ounce gold coin appraised for around $1,817. An old silver coin was also found in the kettle. It was worth $15. "We say thank you also to those individual(s). The citizens of Benton County have really been generous again this year," commented Hansen.

"We say a heart-felt thank you every individual who volunteered to ring the bell, and to all the local churches and local businesses that signed up to ring for a full day. We are grateful to Manager Dave Kelchen and Fareway Stores, Inc., for allowing us to use their storefront," stated Hansen.

The Red Kettle campaign ended Thursday, December 24th. The amount raised was $22, 954. However donations can be made in the following way at any time of the year:

Salvation Army, Benton County Service Extension, 1201 C. Ave, Vinton, IA 52349.

Your donations have an all year-round impact. 90% of donations raised here will stay in Benton County. We assist individuals with rent, utilities, deposits, and other needs, as well as disaster relief when needed throughout the year.

Last fall, Salvation Army was able to donate $3,000 worth of calculators, zipper binders, clothing and some gym shoes for students in need, for our local schools in the county, Benton Community, Belle Plaine,Vinton-Shellsburg and Urbana.

"Would you like to know a little about how the Red Kettle Campaign got its start?

History of the Red Kettle

In 1891, Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee was distraught because so many poor individuals in San Francisco were going hungry. During the holiday season, he resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner for the destitute and poverty-stricken. He only had one major hurdle to overcome -- funding the project.

Where would the money come from, he wondered. He lay awake nights, worrying, thinking, praying about how he could find the funds to fulfill his commitment of feeding 1,000 of the city's poorest individuals on Christmas Day. As he pondered the issue, his thoughts drifted back to his sailor days in Liverpool, England. He remembered how at Stage Landing, where the boats came in, there was a large, iron kettle called "Simpson's Pot" into which passers-by tossed a coin or two to help the poor.

The next day Captain McFee placed a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing at the foot of Market Street. Beside the pot, he placed a sign that read, "Keep the Pot Boiling." He soon had the money to see that the needy people were properly fed at Christmas." Taken from Salvation Army website https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/history-of-the-salvation-army/