‘It’s the giving time’ – Red Kettle Campaign begins in the QC

The bells are ringing at dozens of red kettle sites across the Quad Cities. And Salvation Army officials hope those bells bring in at least $700,000 in donations this holiday season. That’s the goal Salvation Army Quad Cities officials announced during the Red Kettle Campaign kick-off event on Friday, Nov. 8, outside the Hy-Vee grocery […]

The bells are ringing at dozens of red kettle sites across the Quad Cities. And Salvation Army officials hope those bells bring in at least $700,000 in donations this holiday season. That’s the goal Salvation Army Quad Cities officials announced during the Red Kettle Campaign kick-off event on Friday, Nov. 8, outside the Hy-Vee grocery store at 1823 E. Kimberly Road, Davenport.

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“Any little bit will help this campaign,” said Major Lucy Gates, Quad Cities area coordinator for The Salvation Army. She added that this year’s kettle campaign is especially vital because many people in the region need help because of higher prices at grocery stores, gas stations and just about every other business in the area. “It appears there is more need out there,” she added. The local Red Kettle Campaign will focus on 40 local kettle sites – 24 in Iowa and 16 in Illinois. Many of those red kettles are located outside Hy-Vee stores. (During Friday’s campaign kick-off event, Salvation Army leaders said the Hy-Vee kettles will bring in almost half the money raised during the campaign.) In addition to accepting coins and dollars, many of those kettle sites are set up to accept credit cards. The stations will have a poster-like display next to the kettle labeled “tap to give.” People  will have the opportunity to place their credit card next to a designated part of that display to donate $5, $10, $20 or more. Ms. Gates told the crowd on Friday that those displays will not store credit card information, so there will be no risks of card information being stolen. “It’s the giving time. It’s the time of helping. … Give a little bit each time you see that kettle,” Davenport Mayor Mike Matson said at the event. The Red Kettle Campaign – the oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind in the U.S. – helps raise money for those in need in the community. Money raised provides toys for kids, coats for homeless people, food for the hungry and many social service programs. (Go here to find out more about the campaign.) In addition to urging people to donate, Ms. Gates used Friday’s brief ceremony to urge people to donate their time to be bell ringers during the Red Kettle Campaign season.  She suggested civic groups and companies form volunteer groups to help ring the bells and help bring in donations. (Go here to learn more about volunteer opportunities.) During Friday’s ceremony, Linda Andry, president & CEO of Ascentra Credit Union, praised the Salvation Army’s work. She also pointed out how Ascentra, headquartered in downtown Bettendorf, is helping through its Ride 50 auto loan promotion. Each year, beginning Oct. 1 and ending Dec. 31, Ascentra gives $50 cash to the borrower and donates $50 to a local charity with every new qualifying auto loan or refinance processed. In 2023, these donations were given to one of four Salvation Army regions depending on the borrower’s choice. Last year, Ascentra’s nine branches processed 286 auto loans which raised a total of $14,300. The five branches in the Iowa Quad Cities raised $10,350, the Moline branch raised $1,700, the Muscatine, Iowa, branch raised $1,000 and the two branches in Clinton raised $1,250, according to information from Ascentra. This holiday season’s Red Kettle Campaign goal of $700,000 is actually smaller than in some past years. For instance, in 2022, the Salvation Army Quad Cities had a goal of raising $770,000 during the campaign. Ms. Gates said this season’s financial goal is smaller because of the many unknown factors about the local economy and how it is impacting people who may donate money. “We are out ringing our bells, … but we just don’t know how the economy will be this year,” she added.