Despite Donations Drop, Salvation Army to Distribute Food and Toys to 500 Needy Families on Wednesday

The Salvation Army is distributing food and toys to needy families on Wednesday at its church location at 960 East Walnut Street.

This year’s food and toy drive will serve about 500 families and 1,500 children who signed up, said Major Roy Wild, who leads the Pasadena Salvation Army Tabernacle Corps. 

Meanwhile, Wild said the Salvation Army has raised around $88,000 to date this holiday season, falling below its target of $100,000. 

The Salvation Army has been raising funds since the Red Kettle campaign kicked off  in November. The public can still donate until December 24.

“Our Red Kettle campaign ends on the 24th of this month. So we just have a few days left to hit that hundred thousand dollar mark,” said Wild.

The Red Kettle campaign aims to increase public awareness of the Salvation Army’s year-round services, expanding the image of the red kettle and Christmas toys to an everyday Army that serves as the one of the nation’s top providers of social services, not only during the holidays but throughout the year.

“The Salvation Army is very appreciative of the support that we get from the community on a year-round basis. And really appreciate the support of people making donations to help us during this Christmas season.” 

“Unfortunately the need has gone up for a lot of people given where we are with the current economics. So we really appreciate people’s support and help,” said Wild.

Wild urged residents who see a red kettle as they do grocery shopping to drop a donation at its church location at 960 East Walnut Street.

“A hundred percent of those donations stay here in Pasadena,” said Wild. 

For more information, call (626) 773-4400, email Major Roy Wild at roy.wild@usw.salvationarmy.org.

The Salvation Army has been serving in the Pasadena area for over 130 years, covering Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre and San Marino.

The tradition on the “kettle” started in 1891 in San Francisco, when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee, resolving to provide a free Christmas dinner to the poor, remembered a sight he saw in Liverpool, England during his sailor days: a large pot displayed on the Stage Landing, called “Simpson’s Pot.” The pot took in donations put in by passersby.

Taking this idea, McFee asked for permission from San Francisco city authorities to place a crab pot and tripod at the Oakland ferry landing. The kettle – and McFee’s call of “Keep the Pot Boiling!” – drew in passengers and donations.

In 1900, Salvation Army Officer Cadet Amelia Kunkle started the bell ringing tradition when she stood for her kettle duty in New York City and waited patiently for donations from passersby. She found a small bell with a short wooden handle in a nearby Woolworth’s supermarket, paid 10 cents for it, and used it to draw attention to the collection pot.

In modern times, innovations from the crab pot now include self-ringing kettles, booths that play Christmas music, and credit card capabilities.