Carson City Salvation Army kettle donations down from last year

With only a few days left to ring, collections for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettles — a holiday tradition that has served as a symbol of goodwill for more than 100 years — are down by 18 percent.

The Salvation Army, serving Carson City and Douglas County, is asking for the community’s help to make its holiday deadlines.

Salvation Army officials said the kettles are getting the same amount of donations, but there aren’t as many bell ringers. Many days half the bell-ringing sites are left empty due to lack of volunteers and paid bell ringers.

“I’ve had donors call in and want to donate, but they are having a hard time finding kettles,” said Capt. Mark Cyr, the local leader for The Salvation Army. “This can be a big frustration for them and for us. We depend on this income to help the needy in our community.”

Salvation Army officials stress donations are still needed to serve the several hundred impoverished families depending on the organization for Christmas, and the more than 1,200 underprivileged children who are in need of toys.

The Red Kettle income is important to this effort. The organization said it’s doing all it can to get the kettles out into as many locations as possible.

Besides giving to a kettle, donations can be made at carsoncity.salvationarmy.org or forwarded to 661 Colorado St., Carson City, 89701.