POCATELLO — The end of the Salvation Army’s 2023 Red Kettle campaign is Saturday and the Pocatello outpost is still in need of bell ringers, toy donations and monetary contributions.
Capt. Ernie Evans of the Pocatello outpost says he anticipates falling short of his ambitious target of raising $125,000 in celebration of being a fixture of the Gate City community for 125 years. However, he is hopeful a final push from the local community will net the campaign the necessary goal of $78,300 that he has budgeted for the following year.
“The reality is we are not going to hit the $125,000 mark,” Evans said during a recent phone interview with the Idaho State Journal. “We might make as much as we did last year, which was about $76,000 but even at that mark I will probably have to start conspiring how and where I am going to make some cuts.”
As of Tuesday evening, Evans says the local Red Kettle campaign has raised $59,500, or 81 percent of the budgeted goal. This number is up from about $36,000 last week.
Currently, bell ringers are stationed outside two doors at Fred Meyer, two doors at Smith’s, Hobby Lobby, C-A-L Ranch, Walmart and Grocery Outlet, said Evans, adding that Albertsons will join the list beginning Wednesday. In order to reach the budgeted goal, Evans said he is in need of people to volunteer to ring the bell at any of the listed locations.
Those interested in ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, either individually or as a group, are encouraged to visit registertoring.com.
Evans explained that a common misnomer surrounding the annual Red Kettle campaign is that it pays for Christmas for local families in need.
“That is not the case though,” he added. “It actually pays for every day of the year. When Kelly Martinez was doing his radio show (for KORR 104) all of that money was specifically used for Christmas but he hasn’t been with them for two years now.”
Evans said another common misconception is that the Salvation Army is this massive organization with a huge pot of money.
“We do not have that and have never had that,” he said. “All of our money is raised and spent locally and entirely dependent on donations.”
Some of the many programs the Red Kettle campaign helps to fund include a local soup kitchen that has been going strong for over 40 years, a warming station that is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, a computer and internet lab, and educational classes on topics such as self-reliance banking and checkbook management.
“Last year when I had funding for housing we provided $86,000 in housing vouchers,” Evans said. “The year before last it was something around $71,000 but this fiscal year we won’t be able to do any housing funding.”
Evans said other programs include providing clothing vouchers through the Bishop Storehouse, hotel stays for those in emergency situations and a client-choice food pantry that is available three days per week and a fresh food pantry every Friday.
Aside from the warm feeling that is often associated with being altruistic during the holiday season, Evans said another benefit to donating to the Red Kettle campaign is knowing exactly how that money is spent.
“You can depend on the money given to the Salvation Army to go where we say it’s going,” he said. “We are No. 2 of the most accountable nonprofits in the world. Many people donate because they don’t want to and so people can trust that we’re doing with their money what they intended to do in the first place which is helping others.”
While financial contributions help to provide a better life for the less fortunate year round, Evans said the Salvation Army does put in work to try and make sure that local youth are able to have a present to unwrap this Christmas.
Last week Evans described the need for unwrapped toys to provide to local youth as “desperate,” but thanks to a final push things are looking much more optimistic.
“Last week we were about 2,000 or 3,000 toys short but I think we’re in great shape now,” he said. “But if anyone has an unwrapped toy they are able to part with and we have already reached our goal then we will stockpile those for next year in case there is another shortage.”
Evans is thankful for all of those who are able to drop some spare change into the several red kettles scattered throughout the community. And for those who have completely switched to using digital currency, QR codes are posted on every kettle that allows individuals to donate using PayPal or Venmo.