NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the holiday season approaches, The Salvation Army is again on the front lines, officially launching the Red Kettle season under the theme “Love Beyond Christmas” to bring help and hope to the most vulnerable in the community.
This year, from November 14 to December 24, more than 30 locations throughout New Providence, Freeport, Eleuthera, and the Berry Islands will feature Red Kettle bells and volunteer bell ringers, including all Super Value Food Store, Kelly’s Home Centre, Lowe’s Pharmacy, Quality Home Centre, and John Bull locations.
The valuable funds raised during the annual Red Kettle Bell season enable the Salvation Army to help more than 30 thousand people rebuild broken homes and lives each year. This year, the organization aims to raise $250,000 during the campaign.
While the Red Kettle has become synonymous with the holiday season as the Salvation Army’s
hallmark fundraising initiative, the generosity of donors enables the organization to share the love far beyond Christmas.
Red Kettle corporate and individual donations help power a wide array of social services programs year-round. This outreach includes providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, schooling and employment for the blind, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter for the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children.
“Since 1931, The Salvation Army has been restoring hope and dignity to men, women, and children,” said Felix Stubbs, Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.
“With increasing demand, these requirements have become more numerous and wide-ranging. Executing this work would not be possible without the help and support of our volunteers and generous donors. There is always the need for financial and volunteer support to maintain these programs, so help is always welcomed.”
For the second consecutive year, CIBC FirstCaribbean, a longtime supporter of The Salvation Army, supports the Red Kettle campaign with a $7,000 corporate donation.
“We want to ensure that this holiday season families are not hungry, without clothes, or without
the giving of Christmas,” said Dr Jacqui Bend, Managing Director, CIBC FirstCaribbean.
“The Salvation Army’s work is important because it is all-encompassing. It’s for those who are in need. It is very important that the Salvation Army supports these areas in the community, and we are happy to partner with them while they do that.”
In addition, The Salvation Army is proud to partner with the Central Bank of The Bahamas to enable donations through SandDollar, the digital version of the Bahamian dollar.
Each Salvation Army Kettle Bell station will have a QR code that anyone with a digital wallet can scan to donate SandDollars to the Salvation Army within seconds. Persons can also send digital donations remotely using the Salvation Army’s wallet nickname ‘salvationarmy@sanddollar.bs’
During this year’s Red Kettle campaign, the Central Bank of The Bahamas has pledged to
match SandDollar contributions to the Salvation Army.
SandDollar is compatible with all authorized digital wallets in The Bahamas, including Cash n’ Go, Island Pay, Kanoo, Mobile Assist, MoneyMaxx, Omni, and SunCash, any of which can be downloaded from the Google Play and Apple App store.
“The Central Bank has contributed to worthy causes such as The Salvation Army for many
years. The Salvation Army’s work is exceptional and invaluable,” said Jermaine Campbell, Currency Manager, Central Bank.
With more than nine community programs in The Bahamas, including The Salvation Army Erin Gilmour School For The Blind, the Grants Town Learning Center, the Women & Children’s Emergency Shelter, and Welfare and Family Services in Freeport, Grand Bahama, and Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, the Salvation remains one of the largest non-governmental direct providers of
social services in the country.
Here are some of the ways you can help:
● Become a volunteer
● In-kind donations of food, clothing, books, furniture, or anything else
● Service donations
● Financial contributions of any amount
To learn more about The Salvation Army or make a difference in the lives of those in your community, visit salvationarmybahamas.org or call The Salvation Army at 393-2340.
