Salvation Army needs help to provide holiday cheer

  • BY Wire Service
  • Friday, December 12, 2008 1:43pm
  • News
A Salvation Army sign stands in the entrance to Fred Meyers at 10201 S.E. 240th St.

A Salvation Army sign stands in the entrance to Fred Meyers at 10201 S.E. 240th St.

The Salvation Army bell ringers are out again with their red kettles and friendly greetings, but they’re not having much luck filling the kettles this year.

“Our kettle (revenues) are down in the South King County area,” said Lonnie Franklin, Western Washington field representative for the Salvation Army.

Franklin attributed some of the losses to the poor economy, and some to the fact that more shoppers today use credit or debit cards instead of cash for holiday purchases, leaving them no change to toss in the kettles.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

In South King County in particular, Salvation Army lost a significant source of fundraising revenue when the downtown Kent Kmart decided not to let bell ringers come to its store this year.

“Kmart was always good for about $4,000 in that area, so we’re suffering,” said Franklin.

The kettle funds raised in Kent support year-round services offered by the Kent Salvation Army center. Those services include emergency assistance to families struggling to make rent or basic utility payments, as well as temporary lodging for domestic violence victims.

This time of year, the agency’s services also include a little extra help for the holidays: toys and food for families in need through the South King County Christmas Assistance Program.

“This year, we weren’t able to afford to purchase toys, so what we’ve opted to do this year is buy gift cards,” Franklin said of the Kent center. “We’re giving out gift cards for food and for toys to people who are coming in for assistance.”

The gift cards should cover the cost of one toy and some extra groceries at Fred Meyer.

Franklin noted that the Kent Salvation Army will have some toys on hand at the center to give out last minute. Most of those toys come from donations made at local Bartell Drugs and Fred Meyer stores, which serve as collection points for the Salvation Army toy drive.

“What we will do is, for families that come in late looking for Christmas assistance … we will have toys available,” Franklin said. “But we never get enough.”

The deadline to sign up to receive help through the holiday program in Kent is Dec. 16. Franklin said the Kent’s Salvation Army center will continue accepting toys for the program through Dec. 18. Toys for children ages 3 through 12 are especially needed.

To donate to the Salvation Army’s Christmas program, bring a new, unwrapped toy to the donation barrels at any Bartell Drugs or Fred Meyer store, or drop off toys at the Kent Salvation Army center, 1250 Central Avenue S., Suite 245.

For more information, call the center at 253-852-4983.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Kent renews contract to keep crime-fighting Flock cameras

Take photos of vehicle make, model and license plate at streets across the city

Austin Leming, reported missing in 2021, was last seen in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO
Reward increases for tips about missing man last seen in Kent

Crime Stoppers offers $21,000 for information about Austin Leming’s 2021 disappearance

Holy Spirit Parish in downtown Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Holy Spirit Parish
Kent’s Severe Weather Shelter housed dozens of people

As many as 36 people stayed one night during February’s freezing temperatures

File Photo
Kent Police officer shoots, injures man in Des Moines

Feb. 14 incident under review by Valley Independent Investigative Team

People line SE 272nd Street in Covington on Presidents Day, Feb. 17 to protest many of the actions by the Trump administration. COURTESY PHOTO, Ron Auerbach
People line Covington street to protest Trump, Musk actions

One of many protests across the nation against ‘the anti-democratic and illegal actions’

Charlene Honda at the Day of Remembrance on Feb. 8, 2025, at the Washington State Fairgrounds. Photo by Bruce Honda
Federal Way woman recalls her time in U.S. concentration camp

‘It’s good for people to hear what happened so that it never happens again.’

t
Man fatally shot by Kent Police had high blood alcohol level

Crime lab test results show 0.27 blood concentration level in August 2024 shooting at apartments

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent
Construction set in Kent for 74th Ave. S. and Willis Street

Crews to install traffic islands, curbing at busy intersection

t
Kent Police Blotter: Jan. 26 to Feb. 6

Incidents include vehicle prowls, carjacking arrest, police pursuits, shots fired

Kentlake High School. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Former Kentlake High School teacher pleads guilty to sex charge

Jesse Webb, 46, pleads guilty to communication with a minor for immoral purposes

t
Kent School Board appoints Teresa Gregory to vacant seat

Gregory selected from among 7 finalists to replace Awale Farah

Karen Keiser. COURTESY PHOTO
Former state Sen. Karen Keiser appointed to state Exchange health board

Health Benefit Exchange formed as part of Affordable Care Act