Maj. David Robinson said the goal of the Red Kettle Campaign for The Salvation Army Conway Corps is $120,000, which will go toward helping an ever-growing list of clients who need assistance.
“This is about a third of our income for the year,” Robinson said. “The money goes to help whatever expenses we have at Christmas, if we have to buy anything extra or buy food boxes, but it also goes for what we do throughout the whole year.”
Robinson, who is the corps officer in Conway, along with his wife, Maj. Joanna Robinson, said he has seen requests increase for food boxes and social services.
“The need just keeps growing,” he said. “We’re seeing new families that are coming in for the first time that have never come to us before; more requests for rental assist or utility assistance — requests just keep coming in.”
Last year, the Red Kettle Campaign goal was $112,000, and it was exceeded.
“The good thing is, because of the community shopping at the thrift store last year, donating and having a good kettle season, we increased our social services by $80,000 last year. That went for food, utility assistance, rental assistance, keeping people in their homes, keeping their lights on, helping keep people fed.”
David Robinson said he hopes for a Christmas miracle like Conway experienced two years ago. A gold Krugerrand and two 24-karat triangular gold bouillons were dropped into a kettle on different days by anonymous donors. The Krugerrand is a South African coin that’s 22-karat gold alloy and copper and was worth about $1,235 based on 2013 gold prices.
“We’ve got our fingers crossed that maybe this year …,” Robinson said. “We’re one of the smallest communities that’s ever gotten a Krugerrand. When somebody calls and says, ‘You need to go look in the kettle at such and such,’ we’re gone.”
The Salvation Army Conway Corps serves Faulkner, Van Buren, Perry and Cleburne counties. The kettles are located at both Kroger locations in Conway, and at Harps in Conway, Mayflower, Vilonia and Greenbrier. After Thanksgiving, kettles will be added at Walmart stores in Faulkner and Cleburne counties and at Walgreens in Conway.
Volunteers are needed to ring bells, Joanna Robinson said.
“The money we don’t pay kettle workers goes back in to help the community,” she said, adding that 83 cents of every dollar goes back into the community.
David Robinson said the kettle at Harps in Heber Springs was not operational last week because of a lack of volunteers.
Joanna Robinson is in charge of the Angel Tree, which has two locations — the Walmart on Dave Ward Drive in Conway and Colton’s Steak House and Grill, 120 W. Oak St. in Conway.
Churches and organizations often take angels at Christmas, the couple said, but there are plenty left on the tree. Children have to be ages 12 and younger, and their families must meet income guidelines.
“I do have a 16-year-old who is mentally disabled, a young girl, and I went ahead and put her on there,” she said. “Conway and Faulkner County are very, very generous, and we are so thankful for the help.”
The deadline is Dec. 11 to return presents, unwrapped, to The Salvation Army office, 2125 Harkrider St., Suite 12.
“If they want to put some paper and tape in there for the parents, that would be fabulous,” Joanna Robinson said.
Also, volunteers are needed to help sort the toys at 10 a.m. Dec. 14 at 950 Carson Cove, Suite 106.
The Salvation Army will purchase gifts for any leftover angels, she said.
To volunteer as a bell ringer, call (501) 329-1712 or email david_robinson@uss.salvationarmy.org. To volunteer to help sort presents, email joanna_robinson@uss.salvationarmy.org.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.