LIHU‘E — It’s a sound that has been synonymous with the holidays for 120 years. The ringing bells from Salvation Army volunteers and their red kettles are stationed outside island stores to raise money for the Salvation Army Lihu‘e and
LIHU‘E — It’s a sound that has been synonymous with the holidays for 120 years. The ringing bells from Salvation Army volunteers and their red kettles are stationed outside island stores to raise money for the Salvation Army Lihu‘e and Hanapepe programs.
“The money helps fund all of our programs throughout the year,” said Major Mario Reyes of the Salvation Army Lihu‘e Corps. “It goes to help families during Christmas time, but it also helps year-round to serve the community in areas of emergency and disaster.”
The Red Kettle Christmas Campaign has been in full swing since the day after Thanksgiving, and most bell-ringers are volunteers who want to help others during the holiday season.
“The money raised stays in Kaua‘i and helps out the community,” said Tabitha Mattison, who is stationed at Times Big Save in Koloa. Mattison is from Spokane, Wash., and volunteers for the Salvation Army’s Revolution Hawai‘i youth program based on O‘ahu.
Mattison rings her bell for eight hours at a time while greeting passing customers as they drop nickels, dimes, quarters and dollar bills into her kettle. She was inspired to join Revolution Hawai‘i after learning about the Salvation Army’s mission and the needs of people in Hawai‘i.
“I found the Salvation Army was so involved in the community. They weren’t trying to force (religion) down your throat, and I wanted to be a part of it” Mattison said.
Catalina Cordero, who also is a volunteer with Revolution Hawai‘i, moved to O‘ahu from Whittier, Calif., because she felt inspired to help others.
“Before I came to Revolution Hawai‘i, I was homeless,” Cordero said while ringing a bell outside of Sueoka’s in Koloa. “I got a job at a Salvation Army camp and they helped me out a lot.”
The money raised in the red kettles is the Salvation Army’s primary funding source, accounting for 40 percent of its income, said Lt. Sarah Smuda of the Hanapepe Corps. The money helps Kauaians who turn to the Salvation Army for food, toys during the holiday season, clothing, medical assistance, drug treatment, childcare and other social services.
The Lihu‘e and Hanapepe Corps raise funds separately for their respective organizations. Money raised at Eastside locations goes to the Lihu‘e Corps, and money raised at South Shore and Westside locations goes to the Hanapepe Corps.
As of Dec. 18, the Lihu‘e Corps has raised about $30,000 and the Hanapepe Corps has raised about $29,000. Last year the Lihu‘e Corps raised $38,000. Its goal this year is to raise $42,000.
The Hanapepe Corps. raised $33,528.98 last year with a goal of raising $40,000 this year.
“We are trying to raise a little bit more this year because grants have dried up,” Smuda said. “We are trying to raise more to supplement our costs.”
Smuda began working at the Hanapepe Corps in 2008, when the organization’s annual budget was $350,000. This year, the Hanapepe Corps’ annual budget is $330,000. The Lihu‘e Corps has maintained its budget by cutting back on employees and employee hours, Reyes said.
“The money raised is to make sure we don’t stop with any of the services we provide,” Smuda said. “If we had to cut back, it would be the after-school program … We would like to expand our after-school program, not cut back.”
Smuda plans to implement a Hawaiian culture and music program for children ages 6 to 17. The program will help children learn hula, Hawaiian chanting or a musical instrument.
“All of our kids are needy kids,” Smuda said. “Their parents don’t have the money to pay for things like hula classes. That’s the idea, but if we don’t raise the money, we’ll find a way.”
At the Lihu‘e Corps, Reyes said he would like to increase the number of youth who attend the Salvation Army’s summer camp, and to start serving three meals a week instead of two at the Kokua Soup Kitchen.
The Salvation Army bell-ringers will collect money through Christmas Eve. The Lihu‘e Corps has bell ringers stationed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Longs Drugs, Times Big Save, Kmart and Walmart in Lihu‘e; Safeway and Times Big Save in Kapa‘a; and Cost U Less in Kapa‘a when there are volunteers available.
The Hanapepe Corps has bell-ringers stationed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Times Big Save markets in Koloa, ‘Ele‘ele and Waimea; Sueoka’s in Koloa and Ishihara Market in Waimea.
• Andrea Frainier, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or afrainier@ thegardenisland.com.
