By Kaitlyn Rigdon
Staff Writer
The El Dorado Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign was kicked off Thursday night during the Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony.
The campaign, which includes ringing a bell in front of stores to raise money for the Salvation Army, officially began in front of businesses Friday. Although, due to agreements and contracts with some stores, the majority don’t allow bell ringers in front of their stores until Nov. 23.
“We hope to hit the ground running on the 23rd,” said Salvation Army Capt. Jason Perdieu. “That’s my target date to really get out and ambush these locations.”
Perdieu said they are trying to get the word out to all churches, civic groups and organizations to recruit bell ringers. They are also using word of mouth and social media.
Perdieu said so far they have had a few volunteers sign up, “but we could always use more.”
This year, Perdieu said, they are solely using volunteers to ring the bell.
“The way I see it is we’re all in the community so we should all work together to give back and to raise the money,” he said. “If the community raises the money, the community is giving back to the community to help with all of the needs.”
Perdieu added that the need for volunteers is great.
“It’s kind of a challenge to the community to come out and get as involved as they can to help us help our neighbors,” he said.
Last year, the El Dorado Salvation Army netted $33,000, and Perdieu said his goal is $50,000 for this year.
“If we did that with all volunteers, that would be the largest amount that has been raised here,” he added.
The money that is raised in El Dorado through the Red Kettle Campaign stays in El Dorado, Perdieu said.
“This is our largest fundraiser of the year internationally for the Salvation Army and this money isn’t used just for Christmas, it goes toward money that we need to do the programs all year long,” he said.
The money goes toward everything that the Salvation Army offers in El Dorado including social services, shelter, sending youth to summer camps, food, the church program and the women’s program.
Perdieu said the Red Kettle sites will be located at Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Macs, Stage, JC Penney’s, Brookshires and Walgreens.
Perdieu said the Red Kettle Campaign always restores his hope and faith for humanity.
“Everybody that rings the bell literally takes something away from it,” he said. “Bell ringing, to me personally, just moves me and motivates me to keep a humble spirit and to always want to be taking care of the less fortunate, the underdog.”
The campaign is going on now until Dec. 24.
To volunteer for the 2018 Red Kettle Campaign, or for more information, call the El Dorado Salvation Army at 870-863-4830.
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].