Coronavirus has had a major impact on Salvation Army of Jackson County’s annual fundraising campaign, causing what Major Jason Koenig calls “a very challenging year,” but Monday brought a bright spot.
Koenig says that the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle campaign is short about half of its usual bell-ringing volunteers. The organization is currently short about $25,000 and has not yet managed to raise half of its $160,000 goal for the year.
However, sometime on Monday, Koenig says that someone placed a gold coin worth an estimated $1,800 in one of the Medford kettles.
“It is a great blessing and a reminder of the amazing generosity of our community,” Koenig said.
Monday’s unexpected gift aside, the Salvation Army is still very much in search of funding to help those in need for the next year. Particularly with COVID-19 having such an outside impact on bell-ringing volunteers, the Salvation Army has provided additional ways to donate, and instituted extra safety measures at its usual sites:
- Give online at RedKettleMedford.org
- To help ensure the safety of bell ringers, donors and partners, The Salvation Army has adopted nationally mandated safety protocols.
- Donate digitally with Apple Pay or Google Pay at any red kettle in Oregon.
- Ask Amazon Alexa to donate by saying, “Alexa, donate to The Salvation Army,” then specifying the amount.
- Adopt additional Angels to give hope and joy to kids and families in need through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
“Every donation provides help and hope to those in need, and all gifts stay within the community in which they are given,” Koenig said.