More Than $100M Raised–The American Public’s Commitment to Love Beyond the Holidays
Each year since 1891, The Salvation Army brings out the iconic Red Kettles for the holiday season, where we see thousands of volunteers nationwide ring bells to raise funds for The Salvation Army’s yearlong social services programs.
The annual Red Kettle Campaign and fundraiser kicks off on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas Eve to help millions of people in need. Every dollar dropped into a red kettle helps give local families the Christmases they deserve and the yearlong support they need.
The 2022 Red Kettle Campaign, this year centered around the commitment to Love Beyond challenges, difficulties, and setbacks, brought in more than $102 million, an incredible and truly humbling result that empowers The Salvation Army to continue providing live-saving services in communities nationwide. The donations we collect during the holiday season stay local in the communities they were raised in, and help us provide emergency shelter, food, childcare, rental assistance, addiction recovery services, and so much more to those in need every day of the year.
These numbers would not have been possible if it weren’t for the help of our national Red Kettle Partners, including the Dallas Cowboys, Walmart, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Hobby Lobby, Albertsons Companies, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, Big Lots, Boscov’s, Dillard’s, Food Lion, JCPenney, Macerich Shopping Centers, Mardel, and Walgreens.
Around the country, we find many different activations at the local level to raise awareness for the campaign and to bring in funds. Celebrity partners, police and fire departments, high school volunteer groups, families, professional athletes, new bellringers, and longtime supporters of The Salvation Army all come together during the holiday season to support their communities at the Red Kettles.
Long-distance friends who travel more than 60 miles just to ring bells together, donors who are inspired to give back because they were once helped by The Salvation Army, and even unique volunteers like Hank the Horse step in to ring bells for The Salvation Army during Red Kettle season.
Another example of the collaborative efforts to help families in need include our partners at Sam’s Club, who launched a nationwide donation match on Giving Tuesday. The match was applied to the first $1 million in donations made online from Tuesday, November 29 through Friday, December 2. The first million was met within two days and helped ensure that thousands of families wouldn’t have to make difficult choices like paying their light bill or putting presents under the tree.
We’re so grateful for the volunteers and corporate partners who were instrumental in raising so much support during the 2022 Red Kettle Campaign. With these funds The Salvation Army will continue to bless the lives of those in need around the country, showing love beyond all hardships all year long.