Mat-Su Salvation Army in dire need of volunteers

WASILLA— The Mat-Su Salvation Army is hurting really bad during a really important time of the year, the holidays.

Donations from Red kettles are down 75% in the Valley, due mostly to the drastically low number of volunteer bell ringers, according to The Salvation Army Mat-Su Valley Corps Major Kevin E. Bottjen.

“COVID has hit us hard,” Bottjen said.

The Salvation Army is facing historic lows in donations while working an uphill battle against a huge spike in overall need for essential services like food, utility and family support services.

“It’s tripled, easily,” Bottjen said.

According to Bottjen, their office typically works 20 to 30 cases a week. Now it’s between 60 to 90 per week. He said that recent food assistance grants have helped them curb the surge in demand, but their limited volunteer base makes everything more difficult. Aside from Bottjen and his wife Tina, there’s only one paid employee, so the majority of their workforce relies on volunteers.

“That’s kept us extra tired,” Bottjen said. “Unfortunately, doing the most good costs people and resources.”

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign is their largest fundraiser of the year. Donations from the Red Kettles fuel the coming year’s overall operating budget.

“We desperately need volunteers, because that’s a significant source of income that supports what we do year-round,” Bottjen said.

According to Bottjen, bell ringers fill in two hour shifts. The dwindled number of volunteers is leaving gaps in their normal coverage. He said that participating locations are allowing them to set up, but places are getting left out, losing painful chucks of donations by the hour.

Bell ringers are following social distancing measures, wearing masks and remaining 6 feet apart from on goers, according to Bottjen. He said that bell ringing is a good way for families or groups of friends to bond while doing a good deed. He said if one group volunteers at one location, that covers the whole day.

“If everybody did that we could get all the locations covered. And, it is fun…You can talk to people and ring the bell,” Bottjen said. “It’s an easy way to help us a lot.”

The Mat-Su Valley Salvation Army is also registering local families seeking Christmas assistance. Families across the Valley with children up to 17 years of age can register for assistance through Dec. 11.

“The important thing is that they have to get signed up,” Bottjen said.

Eligible households that submit complete applications by the deadline will receive assistance with meals and gifts for their children. Bottjen noted that individuals without children are also eligible, but they need to call for assistance instead of utilizing their Angel Tree website.

“We need more people to sign up for assistance. I know they’re out there,” Bottjen said.

The Mat-Su Salvation Army is working with 39 local businesses and other establishments across the community for this year’s Angel Tree gift distribution program.

Shoppers have the chance to shop for Christmas wish list items they find on Angel Trees at any of the participating locations. Bottjen said that he was confident in the Valley’s continued ability to step up during times of need, despite the continued strains from the pandemic.

“I’ll never cease to be amazed by the Valley’s generosity,” Bottjen said. “People are tired, but they still have that giving spirit.”

The Salvation Army is requiring the following documents for Christmas Assistance registration: photo identification for all adults in the household, birth certificates or proof of guardianship for children younger than 18 years old, proof of physical address in the Mat-Su Valley, and proof of household income.

Those looking to support the Salvation Army during the holiday season can donate online at matsuredkettle.org or by texting “KETTLES” to 91999.

For more information, call Mat-Su Valley Corps at 907-745-7079 or visit mat-suvalley.salvationarmy.org.

Families looking to sign up for Christmas assistance can submit their applications online at saangeltree.org. Those without children are asked to call the main office.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com