Getting in the Christmas Spirit Through Holiday Donations

Christmas time in New York City is quite the spectacle. Many come from various places around the country and the world to see how this city celebrates the holiday. One of the big features here in New York is the Salvation Army Red Kettle Donation collectors. It is hard to visit without noticing them because they are placed throughout the whole city.

The Salvation Army Red Kettle.

The history of the Salvation Army red kettle goes all the way back to 1891. Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee wanted to do something about the number of poor and hungry individuals in San Francisco. It was his goal to provide a free Christmas dinner for those in poverty. His only issue was figuring out how to fund the project. He recalled a memory from when he was a sailor and lived in England. There was an area called Stage Landing, where boats came in. In that area was a large iron kettle called “Simpson’s Pot,” which urged people to donate a coin or two to help the poor. This was the kick-starter idea for McFee, and he placed a pot in a similar place in San Francisco with a sign that read, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” This created the funds he needed to provide the Christmas dinner to the impoverished. This idea spread across the country to many other charities.

Once the Christmas season officially begins, the Salvation Army kettles are found practically everywhere around New York City. Each station is a little different depending on the collector(s). Some stations have one collector and others have two or three. The collectors wear either a black uniform or a red apron to signify that they are official Salvation Army workers. They all have red kettles, which is where patrons are encouraged to drop their donations. The collector holds a bell, which they ring to attract attention and get donations from passers-by. Some of the collectors have a speaker. They spread holiday cheer by playing Christmas music. I have noticed that most of the collectors in areas of high tourist traffic, like Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park, have turned the act of collecting donations into a performance. The collectors blast their Christmas music to draw people in. This really entices people and helps bring in donations. They dance along to the music and encourage others to dance along with them. The more the collector gets into his or her performance, the easier it is for them to get donations.

The Salvation Army kettle collections help people get into the Christmas spirit, and one could argue that is what Christmas is all about. Christmas is the season to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I believe that the Salvation Army’s collection of donations to supply the poor and hungry with a Christmas dinner is in reflection of Christ’s way of life. It also allows those less fortunate to participate in the festivity of the holiday that commemorates Christ’s birth. The Salvation Army truly goes above and beyond to make sure that people don’t forget what Christmas is really about.

The Salvation Army collectors performing at Rockefeller Center on December 9, 2015.