Salvation Army to begin collecting holiday donations

PHOENIX — The holiday season is quickly approaching and that means volunteers from the Salvation Army will be out in front of stores again collecting donations.

Ringing bells and standing alongside large red kettles, volunteers will use those donations to help families and those in need this holiday.

“Truly, they bring hope to families,” said Maj. John Brackenbury, Valley of the Sun coordinator for the Salvation Army. “It brings joy to a child’s face to be able to open up toys on Christmas morning. It brings joy to somebody’s face on a Christmas Day or a Thanksgiving Day to actually be able to sit down with others and have a meal, maybe the only warm meal they’ll have that day.”

Branckenbury said the holidays are the most important time of the year for the Salvation Army, as the donations received by volunteers help fuel operations for much of the year.

“We raise about 60 percent of our income out of Christmas season,” he said.

Volunteers using red kettles and collecting donations in front of grocery and other retail stores is a longstanding tradition for the Salvation Army and is done nationwide, Brackenbury said.

Volunteers will begin this year’s donation collection Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving.

Related

Police investigate after 5 bodies found in rural area outside Portland, OregonTrump is heading to his golf course in Ireland to watch the Irish Open golf tournament next month2 very different Phoenix eateries make NYT list of best Mexican restaurantsHe was waiting for his son to return from the USS Lincoln. Then Border Patrol arrested him.Construction begins on Avondale Tech Center, a 700,000-square-foot industrial campusJared Kushner meets with Democratic leader Jeffries with House control at stake in November