Here’s what happens to the money you put in the red Salvation Army kettle that will be sitting outside Palmer’s Market in upcoming weekends through the end of the year, who collects it and who benefits from it, from an announcement from the town Human Services Department:
Photo by Visitor7 on Wikipedia
A Salvation Army “Sidewalk Santa” in Oregon in 2013.
The Salvation Army bell ringing season starts the week-end after Thanksgiving and runs through Christmas Eve, when the red kettles are packed away for the season.
When you give at the red kettle in Darien, located outside Palmer’s Market, 90 percent of the money dropped in goes right back to our community!
Did you know that the volunteers outside of Palmer’s Market collect up to $400 per day in donations?
The volunteers are your friends and neighbors. Groups such as the Boy Scouts, the Masons, Darien Men’s Group and others spend their weekends in December ringing the bells to benefit our community.
The money they collect goes directly to the Darien Department of Human Services to help provide basic needs, housing, youth services, rehabilitation, and counseling to the people of Darien.
The Salvation Army supports our Back-to-School Program with donations of Payless gift cards.
Last year, with the support of The Salvation Army and the Darien community, the Department of Human Services was able to provide backpacks, school supplies and gift cards for shoes and sneakers at Payless for 124 school-aged children in Darien.
The Salvation Army helps keep our Household Goods closet stocked with essential household items. It provides eligible families and individuals with cleaning supplies, paper goods, and personal grooming products and allows those on tight budgets to spend money on fresh food instead of costly household staples.
The Salvation Army also helps us provide emergency financial assistance to eligible Darien individuals and families. With the Salvation Army’s support, we help clients in need with utility bills, rent payments, medical expenses, or emergency assistance of gift cards at local food stores.
These are just a few of the ways your donations help The Salvation Army serve our community at Christmas and all year long.
Please be generous when you see the Bell Ringers at Palmer’s this week-end and week-ends in December. Your contributions help the Darien Department of Human Services help others. Thank you for your support!