Salvation Army adds twists to Red Kettle drive
ALPENA, Mich.– The Alpena Salvation Army is adding some new features, and a contest, to this year’s Red Kettle drive.
The Red Kettle bell ringers will be setting up at storefronts across Alpena starting this Wednesday, November 11.
Major Prezza Morrison said the organization is adding new ways to donate that will both keep people safe and improve convenience. Digital payment is one such improvement, Morrison said.
“You can pay by your phone. So you go up to a kettle and there’s a sign there that you can just tap. With your iPhone you can turn on your camera. And you use your camera to scan it across a little box and you can just pay on your phone. Or if you have an android you just tap on the little disk and you can pay that way.”
Meanwhile, Morrison said many Alpena residents have asked her where Tim Hart will be this year. Hart has volunteered as a ringer outside Neiman’s Market for the last 24 years. After the closure of Neiman’s earlier this year, Hart needs a new place to ring. Morrison decided to make it a game for the community.
“On Wednesday I would be at Neiman’s wondering where Tim is and I would give an opportunity for people in the community to guess where they think Tim may be. And the person who guesses where Tim is will get a gift from the Salvation army. And then I will go to Tim and present him with a “Where’s Waldo” hat.”
The Red Kettle drive is one of the Salvation Army’s biggest fundraisers. The organization hopes to raise $155,000 this year.
