10A | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS
Kettles
Stocks. Bonds. CDs.
IRAs. Mutual funds.
from 1A
hampering traditional
support systems and
teams that normally
address impacted com-
munities.
It has also stretched
already reduced re-
sources for community
assistance
organiza-
tions, including The
Salvation Army, which
has been involved in
disaster relief in the
United States since the
1900 Galveston Flood.
Each year, more
than 30 million Amer-
icans receive direct
assistance from The
Salvation Army, with
the help of 3.5 million
volunteers working at
7,600 support centers.
The organization is
Christian based, with
a focus on providing
help not only in Amer-
ica but worldwide. The
structure of the group
is based on a military
model in terms of the
titles and responsibili-
ties of individual mem-
bers, who are often re-
ferred to as “Soldiers
for Christ.”
The collection of
money for the services
provided to those in
crisis has in the past
been primarily funded
through generous cor-
porate or philanthropic
organizations, as well
as money collected in
Red Kettles placed in
front of retail locations
across the country.
The Salvation Army
is often rated among the
most trusted and effec-
tive religious-based aid
agencies in the country.
This trust is the rea-
son $126 million was
raised last year nation-
ally through donations
made at 30,000 Red
Kettles sites around the
country.
More than $600,000
of that was brought in
through fundraising ef-
forts in Oregon. While
digital fundraising for
Christmas started ear-
lier this year, most bell
ringers won’t be out
collecting money at the
iconic Red Kettles until
November.
“Christmas this year
will be unlike any
Christmas in the his-
tory of The Salvation
Army,” said Major Bob
Lloyd, The Salvation
Army Portland Metro
Coordinator. “We have
seen so much need in
our community be-
cause of COVID-19.
Then most recently the
need has increased as a
Andy Baber, AAMS®
Financial Advisor
Ryan Hitchcock
Financial Advisor
1010 Highway 101
Florence, OR 97439
541-997-8755
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The Cascade Division of The Salvation Army has been assisting with community
crisis situations, including bringing food and support to wildfire victims.
result of the wildfires
across the state of Ore-
gon.” Lloyd added that
the needs across Ore-
gon have continued to
grow this year “beyond
imagination.”
As a testimony to
that, based on the in-
crease in services al-
ready provided in
response to the pan-
demic, the organiza-
tion expects to serve
up to 155 percent more
people in 2020 with
Christmas assistance.
In Florence, Red Ket-
tles have been a consis-
tent source of revenue
during previous holi-
day seasons, thanks in
large part to the work
done by local volun-
teers, according to Wil-
liam Olson, Director of
Gift Planning for the
nonprofit’s Cascade Di-
vision.
“As you may know,
The Florence Western
Lane County area has
distinguished itself in
per capita fund raising
for Red Kettles, espe-
cially in those years
under the leadership
of Sam Spayd,” said
Olson. “Sam and other
local volunteers have
worked to advise and
spend with Debi Leigh-
ton the vast bulk of
these kettle monies to
Florence-area concerns
and organizations.”
The money raised
from local kettle efforts
helps with putting food
on the table, paying
bills, providing shelter
and helping place gifts
under the tree for hun-
dreds of local families
each year.
“At the same time,
due to the closing of
retail stores, consumers
carrying less cash and
coins, and the decline
in foot traffic, The Sal-
vation Army could see
up to a 50 percent de-
crease in funds raised
through the red kettles,
which would limit our
capability to provide
services for the most
vulnerable,” Olson said.
“People are still in need,
regardless of what is
going on around us
and we at The Salvation
Army are working to
meet that need and are
extremely grateful to
the people in our com-
munities who continue
to help us.”
Since March, in re-
sponse to COVID-19,
The Salvation Army
across Oregon has pro-
vided 140,437 meals,
98,338 snacks, 43,078
food boxes, and emo-
tional and spiritual
support to 37,841 peo-
ple in need.
The group also main-
tains ongoing local
support services for
veterans, women and
children and members
of the LGBTQ commu-
nity.
Debi Leighton is the
Service Extension Co-
ordinator for the Salva-
tion Army of Western
Lane County and she
has responsibility for
finding an individual
to replace Spayde as the
lead team member for
the 2020 Florence Red
Kettle Drive.
Anyone
interested
in assisting or leading
this year’s collections
in the Florence area can
contact her at 541-882-
5280 or 541-892-2723.
Dan and Teresa Lofy, Owners
And Watson
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We appreciate and honor our Veterans.
In compliance with restrictions to keep everyone
safe and healthy there will be a
Veterans Honor Cruise instead of a parade this year.
Participants will follow a route starting in
Historic Old Town and a drive past
Shorewood, Spruce Point, and Regency.