CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Get ready to start hearing bells as you enter and leave stores, and walk the streets of Chicago.
The first round of The Salvation Army’s Red Kettles will return Monday to the streets of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, a little earlier than previous years.
The annual fundraising effort usually starts at Thanksgiving.
The Salvation Army is looking to raise $25-million and is calling this year’s fundraising effort, “Rescue Christmas.”
According to the Salvation Army, bell ringers will be collecting donations starting Monday outside Jewel-Osco and Hobby Lobby stores. Additionally, red kettles will be placed outside Walmart stores on Nov. 21, Mariano’s on Nov. 26, and Macy’s on Nov. 27.
But the annual fundraising campaign will look a little different this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Bell ringers will be required to follow strict guidelines to ensure their safety and the safety of donors, including:
• Bell ringers are required to wear face masks at all times.
• Bell ringers are required to maintain six feet of distance from donors who approach the kettle.
• All kettle equipment will be sanitized on a regular basis.
• Signs on the kettles will be equipped with Apple Pay and Google Pay technology, encouraging contactless donations with the tap of a smartphone.
There will also be fewer red kettles this year and they will all be outside. There is concern that there are just fewer people on the streets now, and that's why they're starting early.
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The Salvation Army said the red kettles are a vital part of the Rescue Christmas campaign, which The Salvation Army launched mid-September. The annual fundraising campaign began nearly two months earlier than in a typical year, in order to meet an unprecedented need. Salvation Army corps community centers saw up to a fivefold increase in need during the height of the pandemic in the spring.
“Because of the continued COVID pandemic, many of our neighbors are facing financial hardship this year. We’re seeing many people seeking assistance for the first time,” said Lt. Col. Lonneal Richardson, divisional commander for The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division, in a statement. “The funds donated to the Red Kettles will allow us to continue supporting a growing number of individuals with the resources they need to keep food on the table, the lights on, and Christmas gifts under the tree. You can help Rescue Christmas.”
The money raised will also fund programming all year long, including rehabilitation for substance use disorders and shelter for the homeless. Seventy percent of The Salvation Army’s donations for the entire year are made during the Christmas season.
Every donation provides help and hope to those in need, and all gifts stay within the community in which they are given. Donations can be made at the Red Kettles or online at www.salarmychristmas.org. If you need services or know of someone in need, please visit www.salarmychicago.org.