It’s that time of the year again. The time for red kettles, the jingling of loose change, the rustling of dollar bills and the familiar sound of bells ringing. Yes, it is time for the annual 12 Days of Christmas kettle campaign sponsored by the Rowan County Service Unit of the Salvation Army.
The Unit, made up of volunteers from the school system, local businesses and other individuals, is entering its sixth year of ringing the bells in Rowan County.
"We started this in October 2003 because we all saw the need in our community," said Darrinda Ramey, director of The Family Resources Centers at Clearfield and McBrayer Elementary schools and a founding member of the group.
"Working in the Family Resource and Youth Services Centers we understand the importance of having alternative funding sources for helping individuals and families in need," echoed Carol Turner, director of the Youth Services Center for Rowan County Senior High School and also a founding member.
Although the unit started in 2003, there has long been a Salvation Army presence in Rowan County even if it hasn't been widely known.
"Alpha Hutchinson was the Salvation Army for many, many years in Rowan County," said Oveda Messer of the Citizens Bank. "He always contributed to the Salvation Army, most of the time out of his own pocket - because of his humble beginnings, he tried to help as many people in need as he possibly could."
Hutchinson was president and CEO of the Citizens Bank of Morehead from 1970 to 1990 and then served as chairman from 1990 until his passing in 2001. "Dad always had a soft spot in his heart for people in need, he believed in the Salvation Army and what it stood for as an organization and took great pride in contributing to it locally," said his daughter Susan Hutchinson Neff.
The money raised from the kettle campaign directly benefits the local community. "Eighty cents of every dollar collected goes directly to the county," said Jim Tom Trent, chairman of the local service unit. "The other 20 cents is sent to state headquarters in Louisville to be used in statewide disaster relief, however, if there is a community-wide disaster in Morehead, that money returns to our community and then some," Trent said.
"That is the main reason we decided to start this unit, because of how well the money is spent. The national slogan for the Salvation Army is 'Doing the Most Good' and that simply means that we do the most good out of each dollar--no money is wasted".
This year's campaign began on Monday, Nov. 23 and will continue on Fridays and Saturdays through the weekend before Christmas. "Our goal each year is to raise at least $10,000 and we are already off to a great start after our first week," said Carmen Eldridge Black of the Gateway Homeless Shelter and member of the local unit.
Since its inception in 2003, the unit has raised more than $60,000 for the community and has helped hundreds of individuals and families with emergency services.
To volunteer to ring the bell contact Trent at 606-356-2210 or email jimtomtrent@gmail.com. The organization also has a Facebook account and welcomes anyone to join them at The Rowan County Salvation Army on Facebook. To read more about the Salvation Army visit www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf.
Members of the Rowan County Service Unit of the Salvation Army are: Pat Richmond, Carol Turner, Marilyn Smith, Carmen Black, Diane Rogers, Kellyn Gussler, Kay Roe, Oveda Messer, Kris Alderman, Darinda Ramey and Jim Tom Trent.
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Come on and ring those bells
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