Carson City Salvation Army’s Red Kettle holiday campaign is underway

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettles, a holiday tradition that has served as a symbol of goodwill for more than 100 years, will be accepting store gift cards this year.

“We all have a gift card in a drawer somewhere or at the bottom of our purse that maybe has $1.33 left on it; what can you do with $1.33?” said Lt. Mark Cyr, Carson City officer in-charge. “If 10 people put one of those cards into one of our Red Kettles, we can provide a family with a Christmas meal. That little bit of change can help ‘change’ one of your neighbor’s holiday!”

You can buy gift cards to be used as gifts for children this Christmas in dollar amounts of $10, $20, $50, etc., or, if you have a dollar or two left on a gift card, you can drop it in a Red Kettle. Those few dollars will add up and The Salvation Army will use them to provide a holiday for a neighbor in need.

“Many families are still finding it very hard to stay afloat, and we’ve seen it firsthand in the numbers of people coming to us for help. It’s especially hard during the holiday season, when so many of our neighbors don’t know how they’ll have the means to provide for their families. That’s why The Salvation Army looks to our community for their generosity: so we can show that same compassion and kindness to the less fortunate,” Cyr said.

Salvation Army officials stress that any contribution will help, and donations of time are accepted as gratefully as donations of money.

“Reaching out to those in need by volunteering to ring bells or serve in the Christmas Warehouse is a wonderful way to connect with the community, to give back, to share blessings, and to be blessed in return,” Cyr said.

To volunteer this Christmas season or for more information, call Christie Contreras at 775-887-9120, ext. 101, or go to carsoncitysalarmy.org.