Salvation Army Kettle Drive to benefit Helping Hands Fund

This Christmas Season, when you shop at Super One Foods, Wal Mart, Pablo Family Foods and Harvest Foods, you will see volunteers from the Polson, Pablo and Ronan area churches and community organizations ringing the bell for the annual Salvation Army Kettle Drive.

Over the past several years, the Salvation Army has partnered with the Helping Hands Fund, a project of the Polson Ministerial Association, by providing vouchers for those who have emergency needs. The Helping Hands Fund serves individuals with: food, lodging, rent, utilities, propane/fuel oil, bus tickets, gas, personal care items and meals.

In the past, Bell Ringers were paid, which was not found to be profitable. Salvation Army vouchers, available through the Helping Hands Fund, are a direct result of donations raised by the Kettle Campaign. The individuals you see ringing the bells November 29th though December 24th are volunteering their time. 90% of all funds raised during the Christmas Kettle Drive stay in Lake County. Last year, a total of $ 13,070.00 was raised.

$ 15,000.00 is the goal for this year.

The Kettle Drive “traveling” trophy was awarded in 2012 to Polson Community Church for raising the most money on behalf of the Helping Hands Fund. Churches and organizations will be vying for the honor again this year.

So when you see and hear a Bell Ringer, please put whatever you can afford into the Kettle to help us raise the additional funds necessary to sustain our help to the needy throughout the coming year.

If you wish to volunteer for this year’s Kettle Drive, please call 883-5908.