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Photo provided by Lieutenant Bree Barker.
SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Salvation Army plans to ring bells at their red kettles outside of many popular local shopping venues this Christmas season. Last year, with the generosity of the community, the Salvation Army was able to provide 250 families with gifts and a holiday food basket.
This year, organizers are seeking additional volunteers to ring bells at their red kettles to raise awareness and funding for programs that assist struggling people in Saratoga County.
“Volunteers who ring bells have direct impact on making change happen in lives of those in their community, as every dollar raised will stay there to meet needs all year,” said Lieutenant Trisha Smouse of the Salvation Army center.
“This is our busiest time of year. The majority of funds used for our operation is collected during the Christmas season, but as you can imagine—it’s never enough to meet the growing year-round needs of hurting people in Saratoga County,” explains Lieutenant Bree Barker.
Families, businesses, high school and college teams and clubs, civic groups, businesses and churches are encouraged to sign up as volunteer bell ringers.
“We work really hard to fight hunger all year and we continue this at Christmas by giving food baskets to those in this area who are struggling with not having enough to eat or the cost of food,” added Barker.
The Salvation Army in Saratoga Springs will distribute over 250 food baskets to low-income families this Christmas and offer toys and gifts to disadvantaged children.
“Every Christmas, I’m humbled by the fact that residents in our area are so eager to give people in need the chance to rebuild their lives. They are really making change happen for those in need,” said Smouse.
For more information, call the Salvation Army at 518-584-1640.
Donations can also be made online at www.salvationarmyempirestate.org, by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by texting the word “GIVE” to 80888 to make a $10 donation to the Red Kettle Campaign.
