Ariz. Sen. John McCain rings bell to kick off annual Phoenix Salvation Army campaign

PHOENIX — Arizona Sen. John McCain helped raise awareness for the Salvation Army’s Annual Kettle Campaign by ringing the famous silver bell Monday at the Christown Spectrum Mall in Phoenix.

(KTAR Photo/Sharon Mittelman)

McCain said the Salvation Army devotes a larger percentage of its donations to Arizona families in need and other various charitable causes than any other similar group.

“I can assure anyone who donates that 97 cents out of every dollar they donate will go directly to helping others,” McCain said.

McCain said the Valley has some great charities, but the Salvation Army is special, “because it is made up of people who devote their lives to helping others.”

Major John Brackenbury, program coordinator for Salvation Army Valley of the Sun, said the charity appreciates the Senator helping them raise money.

“It brings a lot of recognition to the Salvation Army Kettles and what we do during the holiday season,” he said. “We will be serving tens of thousands of people across the Valley, across the state of which the Senator represents and those individuals, I’m sure, will be grateful for his participation in helping make their season a little bit merrier.”

Brackenbury said officials with the Salvation Army are concerned because donations in the Valley are down this year about 30 percent compared to the same time last year. He said the group is hoping enough donations come in these last few days before Christmas to ease that shortfall.

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