Salvation Army kicks off Red Kettle campaign at Park Plaza Mall

First Lady Ginger Beebe reads a Christmas story to the Sherwood Elementary School Choir as part of The Salvation Army's 2014 Christmas Kick-Off at Park Plaza Mall.
First Lady Ginger Beebe reads a Christmas story to the Sherwood Elementary School Choir as part of The Salvation Army's 2014 Christmas Kick-Off at Park Plaza Mall.

The Salvation Army launched its Red Kettle Campaign for the holiday season Friday morning at Park Plaza Mall, setting a higher goal for donations than the group received last year.

First Lady Ginger Beebe was on hand along with anchors from local television stations, Donnie Cook from Bank of America and Merrill Lynch and the Sherwood Elementary School Choir.

Major Roger Glick, central Arkansas Area Commander for the Salvation Army, welcomed the crowd and was enthusiastic about expectations for charitable giving this holiday season.

"The Salvation Army's kettle goal is $375,000," he said. "Last year we raised about [$331,000], so we're increasing it by a good portion. We believe it's achievable."

To open the ceremony, the choir sang a selection including "Kiyoshi Kono Yoru," which is "Silent Night" in Japanese. Then the children gathered around Beebe as she read them a Christmas story and encouraged them to read and develop healthy eating habits.

"The more you read the smarter you are," she said. "So, read, read, read."

Cook then presented a $10,000 check to the Salvation Army on behalf of Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, the first donation to the campaign of the season.

Next, the news anchors in attendance, dubbed the "first ladies" of local media, stood in front of kettles that adorned their respective networks. Mallory Brooks of KARK, Erin Hawley of KATV, Dawn Scott from KTHV and Donna Terrell of KLRT each spoke before ringing the Salvation Army's iconic bells.

"I will admit to you that when I walked through the doors of this mall, I was not in the holiday spirit," Terrell said. "I wasn't; I'm just being honest. And then when I heard the Sherwood Elementary School students singing, I started getting more and more into the holiday spirit."

Beebe then selected the ceremonial first angel from the Angel Tree, a Christmas tree with the names of needy children and families written on paper angels on the stems. By picking names from the tree and giving them to a volunteer, people can begin sponsoring that family.

"That's a commitment that we've made to provide them with toys, to provide them with clothing and things that will make their Christmas brighter," Glick said. "Whenever you see a kettle, throw in some coins, throw in some cash, throw in your winning lottery tickets. Whatever you've got, we'll take it."

Glick said he believes the Salvation Army's goals are attainable this year. Donations increased last year and he said he thinks that will prove to be a continuing trend in 2014.

"You know it seems like even when the economy is bad, people still are generous to the Salvation Army," he said. "You know, last year the economy was not as good as it is this year. You know, we raised more money last year than we did the year before."

He said he thinks this is due to the public's acceptance of the Salvation Army and how well people understand the group's mission.

"I think it's that connection that people have with the Salvation Army because they trust us," Glick said. "They know what we do."

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