Salvation Army Red Kettle fundraiser begins today

Salvation Army Havre is launching its Red Kettle campaign today, which will be the organization's primary fundraiser for the coming year and effectively determine how much they are able to do.

Salvation Army Havre Director Trina Crawford said the title of this year's campaign is "Hope Marches On," and this year the event is especially important.

"It's going to be extremely vital," Crawford said. "I mean we spend the money we make every year."

Last year, she said, her organization raised $39,000, which is the best year she's ever seen, but this year they're hoping to raise even more as the needs of the community are poised to be even greater.

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues, she said, she foresees that the flow of COVID-19 relief funds eventually coming to an end which will leave many people looking for help in the near future.

"We are going to have a lot of deep needs in our community including people who have never been in need before," Crawford said. "I want to prepare for that, I want to be ready for that."

Bell ringers will be out at Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods and North 40 today, she said, and Saturday they will also be at Walmart.

She said she's still looking for both volunteers and paid bell ringers and encouraged anyone willing to work in these positions to contact her and sign up.

Crawford said they are also still taking applications for their Giving Tree and Christmas Food Baskets.

She said the former can be signed up for at https://saangeltree.org/ but applicants for a Christmas Food Basket need to contact Salvation Army Havre directly.

Application deadline for the Giving Tree is Dec. 6 and the deadline for the food baskets is Dec. 13.