TYLER, Texas — It's that time of year when the colder temperatures make their way to East Texas and the sounds of the Salvation Army bells fill the air.
The Salvation Army of Tyler kicked off their 2019 Red Kettle campaign on Friday with a little help from CBS19 and the TEGNA Foundation.
CBS19's Dana Hughey and JJ Maldonado presented The Salvation Army with a $10,000 check to give a jump start to the initiative. This year, the goal is to raise $400,000.
This season, each kettle stand will have a QR Code and a NFC tag that will allow donors to use Apple Pay and Google Pay rather than dropping cash or coins in the kettle.
HISTORY
From its humble beginnings in 1891, when a Salvation Army captain used a crab pot to collect funds in San Francisco, the Red Kettle campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States.
The Red Kettle campaign is a major fundraising event that raises year-round support for programs and services. Donations to the Red Kettles stay local, impacting the lives of people in the communities in which they are received.
Red Kettles will be stationed outside your favorite stores and local businesses, Monday through Saturday, through Christmas Eve.
With fewer people carrying cash, each kettle stand will have a QR Code and a NFC tag that will allow donors to use Apple Pay and Google Pay rather than dropping cash or coins in the kettle.
HOW TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Every volunteer hour of bell-ringing helps put food on the table for 13 people. You can get involved and make a difference by volunteering to ring a bell for The Salvation Army.
If you’re interested in signing up to ring a bell, click here.
THE TEGNA FOUNDATION
The TEGNA Foundation is a corporate foundation sponsored by TEGNA Inc. Through its Community Grant Program, TEGNA Foundation serves the greater good of our communities by supporting nonprofit activities where TEGNA does business. Through its other programs, the Foundation invests in the future of the media industry, encourages employee giving, and contributes to a variety of charitable causes.
At TEGNA, we are driven by our strong purpose of serving the greater good of our communities. Our values – inclusion, integrity, innovation, impact and results – help us better understand and serve those in need. The Foundation is proud to fund nonprofit organizations and programs that promote and celebrate the diversity of the communities we serve.
So help CBS19 and The Salvation Army "do the most good" this holiday season and donate! After all, it is the most wonderful time of the year!