It started in 1891 in San Francisco, when Salvation Army Capt. Joseph McFee was concerned by the number of families who would be going hungry on Christmas. He thought back to when he was a sailor in England and donations for the poor would be put in a large kettle pot.
McFee re-created it, in cherry red, for the holiday season. With all the money he raised in that kettle, he was able to host a communal dinner for the needy in his city.
The Salvation Army has kept this tradition alive all across the world—and especially in Indiana. This year, central Indiana’s Salvation Army hopes to raise $3.3 million through its “Hope Marches On†campaign. The organization will be collecting money in those same iconic red kettles that McFee used in 1891.
Maj. Marc Johnson, divisional commander of the Salvation Army Indiana Division, said that along with the kettle the tradition of helping local communities also carries on.
“People can be assured that what they are giving at their local location is staying to help their neighbors who need the help,†Johnson said. According to Welfare Info, one out of five Hoosiers living in Indianapolis experiences poverty. This number is significantly higher than the state’s overall poverty percentage of 14.6%. The 2020 census found that the United States poverty rate is 11.6%, meaning that 37.2 million American citizens are under the poverty line.
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty through a range of social services that expand beyond the kettle.
It offers its Angel Tree Program during the holiday season as well. The purpose of the program is to provide presents for parents who might not be able to fill underneath the tree otherwise. Families will provide donors with a Christmas list, and donors will go out and shop and leave the presents with the Salvation Army to distribute.
“We’ve been having this program for over 40 years now, and it’s always been just tremendous feedback,†Johnson said. “It really helps people know that, you know, there are people who care about you.â€
Johnson says that all this work could not be done without the loyal volunteers and donors the Salvation Army has. The organization is still taking volunteers for those who want to get involved, especially during the holiday season. It even still has slots open to ring the bell next to those iconic kettles.
“The Salvation Army helps connect people,†Johnson said, “, especially at Christmas time.
