Salvation Army launches campaign

The Salvation Army Hope Center in Stevens Point will have its annual Kettle Kick-Off at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Festival Foods in Stevens Point.

This year’s event will feature a 15-minute ceremony and a ribbon-cutting with Portage County Ambassadors.

Local and state officials will speak. SPASH w band members playing and their cheer team will also be there.

“Kettle season started back in 1891 to raise money for Christmas meals for the homeless and people suffering in poverty in San Francisco. It’s stuck around ever since then as the Salvation Army’s largest fundraising event, and it is done globally,” said Shelter Director Leigh Ann Trzinski.

“All except 11% of the proceeds stay local, 86 cents for every dollar donated stays local in Portage County. It stays here at the Hope Center, and I use it to give service to people in the shelter. We also use it to help serve people within a community with one-time rent assistance, meals, food, personal items like hygiene items, or anything that they may need,” she continued.

The shelter is a 30-bed shelter that helps men, women and small families. They have hot meals to go for someone who isn’t staying at the shelter. Trzinski said they handed out thousands of meals this year and people can come three times a day.

“They come in asking for food boxes and we will provide them with things. Other people stop in for clothing, blankets, or anything. We try to find a way to help people. We also help people with emergency housing needs, and we receive grants that can help pay for some of their rent. We help them get back on their feet,” Trzinski said.

Along with the kettles, the Salvation Army does an Angel Tree at Walmart. They collect toys and gifts and put together food boxes.

“We partner with Operation Bootstrap, and we take 75 of their applicants, and we make sure that they get the toys they need for their Christmas and then we provide them a food box,” said Trzinski. “I have some wonderful memories of getting to know some of our residents and watching them succeed. I want to thank the community for always being willing to support us and the people we serve, and we look forward to continuing to help the communities.”

Those interested in becoming a volunteer or donating can go to their website at centralusa.salvationarmy.org/stevenspoint/.