By Davy James, Staff Writer
The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally referred to as Black Friday as throngs of people descend on malls and shopping centers to officially kick off the holiday shopping season.
However, the day could be referred to as Red Friday for the Salvation Army, which will start its annual Red Kettle Christmas program.
Volunteers are needed to help man the kettles and ring bells for the program, which will run each weekend up until Christmas. The program provides funding for the Salvation Army’s various programs across the nation, but money donated to the kettles in South Brunswick goes directly to help the township’s Social Services Department.
”Any money we raise through the bell ringing program stays in the township,” said Jennifer Vogel, who helps coordinate the program for the South Brunswick unit of the Salvation Army. “This money goes directly to help the needy residents in our community, which is nice because sometimes when you donate, you don’t know where it’s going. This money stays in South Brunswick.”
Volunteers are needed to donate an hour of their time to man the kettles at five or six locations in the township at places like Stop & Shop, Pierre’s Restaurant and Dunkin Donuts.
”With the economy as it is, we’d like to keep as many kettles open as possible,” Ms. Vogel said. “We ask people to give an hour of their time so it’s easier to rotate the volunteers.”
Ms. Vogel said she needs about 65 to 70 volunteers for each weekend leading up to Christmas.
”It takes a lot of help because we need the same volume of volunteers each weekend,” she said. “As the season gets colder, it’s harder to find people who are willing to come out and help.”
Ms. Vogel said she tries to schedule volunteers close to their residences, and those who participate will need to dress warmly for the hour they run the kettles. The program is of vital importance to help raise funds for the local food pantry, which is way down this year in monetary donations, according to Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf.
”A great way to show appreciation for all that we have is to give back to those who are less fortunate,” Ms. Wolf said. “People can’t pay their bills right now, much less provide food for themselves. We need the help of volunteers to help get through these tough times.”
Ms. Vogel said she hopes the Red Kettle drive will raise close to what the program raised in years past in South Brunswick, about $10,000.
To become a volunteer for the Red Kettle Christmas program, call Ms. Vogel at 732-881-3158 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
To make a general donation to the program, send a check to the Salvation Army South Brunswick Unit, in care of South Brunswick Social Services, at 540 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, 08852.
