Help the Red Kettle Overflow

Tis’ the season for shopping and dropping a bill or two in the familiar Salvation Army Red Kettle as a smiling bell ringer greets you. If you are very lucky, they may even sing or play for you. That Red Kettle give us a chance to experience the moment of giving, the pop of charity. I’m not sure who gets more out of this transaction, the Salvation Army or me, but when I drop something into that kettle, it just feels good. And it’s extra fun to pass out money to the children so they can drop it in themselves.

This year, you could do even more to feel the Christmas spirit: be a bell ringer yourself. Salvation Army needs help staffing the bell-ringing, and suggests that it’s the perfect activity for individuals, groups or families. “This is our major fundraiser, and we depend on bell ringers to help us,” noted Major Kevin Bottjen, who serves as Salvation Army Corps Officer of the Mat-Su Valley alongside his wife, Tina. Hundreds of shifts need to be filled all around the Valley, and you and yours could have a great time helping out.

The Salvation Army has been a contributing part of our community for decades. Arriving in Alaska more than a hundred years ago, the SA Corps made it into the Mat-Su during the middle of the last century and has been helping all along the way.

Some years ago, I decided to start volunteering regularly with the Salvation Army, and when I did, I was amazed at all they do in the community. The Salvation Army Food Bank has been combating hunger for many years, most recently from the big yellow Salvation Army building on the Palmer-Wasilla.

“We served, pre-COVID, about 30 families a month, including deliveries to Seniors and shut-ins,” Major Tina Bottjen reported. “Now we give food to 90 families weekly.” Government assistance and local donations from individuals and local markets have helped to meet these ongoing needs. Their greatest need at present is for non-perishable food items.

The Salvation Army Angel Tree is a program that helps provide cash-strapped families Christmas gifts. In stores around the Valley, look for a tree with small tags on it with gift recommendations for children of different ages. Take a tag and purchase whatever you think best. Donations are accepted through December 19, and can be dropped off at the Palmer Salvation Army location. Your generous donations make sweet Christmases possible for many, many families.

Christ-centered worship services are offered weekly at the Palmer location and are streamed on YouTube. Testimony, sermons, Bible study, and traditional and contemporary music enrich the service. Additionally, Sunday School is offered for all ages, as well as weekly Bible study groups.

Salvation Army also runs a series of youth camps in the beautiful local King’s Lake Camp. Described as modern-but-rustic, the facility hosts a variety of week-long camps for teens, children, scouters, and musicians, ages 7-17. Affordable, with scholarship options, these Christ-centered camps teach skills, build friendships and help young people grow closer to God in a beautiful place.

One project the Bottjens have been working hard to create is a Warming Center—a place for homeless people to stay during frigid winter nights. Here, people could sit in a warm space and even get a bite to eat. Though the Salvation Army sponsored such a center years ago, it was shut down because the building wasn’t up to code. Since then, Kevin and Tina have been working with donors to reshape their local facilities to include a Warming Center, upgraded Food Bank facilities, a Worship Center that is more functional, and space for youth and children’s activities. Such a space has a high price tag, and finding funds has been challenging. Your generous gift in a Red Kettle, or donated online, will help this project move forward more quickly.

Christ invites, “Enter ye blessed…I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes….” (Matthew 25:34-36) This is the perfect time to fill this sacred responsibility, in company with the good people who serve in the Mat-Su Salvation Army. Be a bell ringer, or donate a gift or money. One hour, one gift, one dollar; though small, they can make a difference in someone’s life—particularly, in yours.

How you can help:

To be a Bell-Ringer, you can sign up for a shift on: volunteer.usawest.org

To donate to the Angel Tree program, drop off new, unwrapped items at the Salvation Army Food Bank Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12-4 p.m. before December 19th

To donate, click on the Donate tab at mat-suvalley.salvationarmy.org

Non-perishable non-expired food items can be donated to the food bank during regular hours.

How you can get help:

Palmer Salvation Army Food Bank and Offices: 12271 E. Palmer Wasilla Hwy, 907-745-7079. Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12-4 p.m.

To apply to receive Christmas Angel Tree assistance, sign up at: SAangeltree.org

Worship services 11:00 a.m. every Sunday, streamed live on youtube@mat-valleycorps. Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m.

For more information about the long list of other community services the Salvation Army provides, go to: mat-suvalley.salvationarmy.org

Kristin Fry is savoring the season with neighbors, children and grandchildren. Noel! Christ came for us! Could there be any better news? Kristin is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.