Salvation Army celebrates successful kettle campaign

FILE: Now that the holidays are over, the 99 trees surrounding the Field of Joy at Veterans Park have come down. The trees, plus hard-working volunteer bell ringers, helped raise more than $16,900 for the Callaway County Salvation Army.
FILE: Now that the holidays are over, the 99 trees surrounding the Field of Joy at Veterans Park have come down. The trees, plus hard-working volunteer bell ringers, helped raise more than $16,900 for the Callaway County Salvation Army.

This year's bell-ringing campaign by the Callaway County Salvation Army wrapped up just shy of its $17,000 goal.

But $16,939.87 is enough money to help plenty of people, board chair Glenda Fitch said.

"It went actually quite well," Fitch said. "I'm glad we rang at both locations."

Though a late Thanksgiving delayed this year's campaign slightly, ringing at Fulton's Walmart and Moser's helped make up the difference, she said. Ringers raised about $8,203 at Walmart and $5,857 at Moser's.

Volunteers also rang during the Brick District's holiday open house and the Field of Joy. Volunteers put in dozens of hours across several weekends at both main locations. Fitch estimated she put 80 hours into the Field of Joy alone.

The remainder came from the Field of Joy - families, businesses and charities sponsored 99 trees this year - and countertop kettles placed around the county.

"I had eight little countertop kettles at Fulton Diner; Brooklyn Pizza; Marlene's in Williamsburg; Jalisco's, Show-Me Oil in Auxvasse, China Palace; Walgreens, etc.," Fitch said. "We collect money from those."

Fitch said she seeks out businesses that get plenty of foot traffic. Usually, locally owned businesses, rather than chains, are most amenable.

"I want everyone to know it's Callaway County Salvation Army, not just Fulton," she said. "That's why I put them in Williamsburg and Auxvasse. A couple years ago, I did Ham's Prairie (Store) and actually made quite a bit of money there. It's the local gathering place. I think next year I'm going back."

Of the funds raised, 85 percent stays right here in Callaway County, with the rest heading to the Midland Salvation Army. The money staying in the county must be spent by Sept. 15. Typically, that money goes to SERVE, Inc. to provide emergency utility and prescription medication assistance - though CCSA's board must vote on how to spend the money each year.

"We're having our meeting tonight to decide whether we'll just do utilities and prescriptions," Fitch said.

Last year, SERVE and The Salvation Army held $900 back for special emergency situations, including the apartment fire in Holts Summit.

Other ideas have been floated, including keeping a small cache of money at First Christian Church (which runs the local Salvation Army) for those who come in needing $10 or $20 for gas or a meal.

"We're just afraid that if word gets around we're giving out $20, we'll be inundated, like when we tried to run our own utility assistance," Fitch said. "The few that game the system make it harder for everyone. And the minute we aren't being good stewards for that money, people are going to stop donating."

Rent assistance is also on the table.

"We have talked about rent assistance every year, but we also know it seems like such a bottomless pit," Fitch said. "We only have $17,000, and when people are needing $600 or $800 at a time, that goes fast. One of the things I always look at is how many people and how many families did we help."

People in need of emergency utility or prescription medication assistance may apply through SERVE in Fulton. SERVE gives out up to $150 at a time in voucher form, so it can only be spent for its intended purpose. The medication help can be spent on most prescribed medications, excluding narcotics.

The aid program has looser income restrictions than a federally sponsored program, Fitch said.

"If you didn't quality for assistance through CMCA, you might still qualify through us," she said. "We help the people that fall through the cracks sometimes, that need help and just don't meet all the criteria. We ask MB what are they seeing requests for at SERVE, what can they not help people with. That's how we got into SERVE."