We all know it’s officially the holidays when you hear the ring of that Salvation Army bell right outside one of your local stores. Maybe you’ve even volunteered yourself to stand outside and freeze your toes off, all in the name of charity and the holiday spirit. If so, we commend you and all The Salvation Army volunteers for their work. But this year, the bell ringing is getting a tad more competitive with The Salvation Army’s first-ever “Red Kettle Run.”
The Boston Business Journal reported that The Salvation Army is now holding a competition to see which Red Kettle team can raise the most money by taking the kettle through the streets of Boston. The Red Kettle Run will kick-off on November 13 at the Boston Common and will be the first time in Massachusetts history volunteers have gone mobile with the red kettles.
According to The Salvation Army website, the Red Kettle Run will be made up of teams of three to five people. They are encouraging both local businesses and individuals to sign up for the run. The Red Kettle Run will be an “hour-long event, beginning at noon during the annual Kettle Kickoff, which includes music and other festivities.”
Each of the kettle runner teams will be assigned an area of downtown Boston in which to solicit donations for The Salvation Army. Since the teams only have one hour, they’ll have to make haste through the streets to secure enough donations to win. The team that raises the most money will apparently “win an exciting prize,” however everyone’s donations will go directly to support those in need this Christmas.
Drew Forster, spokesman for The Salvation Army, told the Boston Business Journal that “the Red Kettle Run is a way to capture a quick and early burst of attention for the campaign.” And he further explained that the “campaign has a challenge this year because Thanksgiving falls late on the calendar and shortens by five days The Salvation Army’s timeframe for collecting donations.”
I guess you could say the red kettle pressure is on. Find out how to volunteer for the Red Kettle Run here.
