The local unit of the Salvation Army kicked off the Red Kettle season with a planning meeting on November 9.

The sounds of Christmas bells will be in the air the weekends of December 4-5 and 11-12 when the Salvation Army bell ringers set up at locations around town. This year the red kettles will be at Stop & Shop, Yankee Wine & Spirits, Bottle Stop, Dunkin Donuts, Newtown General Store, Walgreens, and Bagel Delight.

The organization is hoping to increase donations this holiday season. Organizers remind readers that 90% of donations received will help Newtowners directly.

All are invited to participate in collecting and giving to support neighbors.

Who Gets Helped

Last year the Salvation Army helped provide holiday assistance to more than two million people across the United States. Locally, the need is just as strong, and continues to affect neighbors in Newtown. This year local citizens are affected by rising costs of food, gas, and energy.

The local unit of the Salvation Army, in partnership with Newtown Human Services Department, addresses emergency needs of Newtown residents. As noted earlier, 90% of the money raised through the Newtown Salvation Army Red Kettle collection stays in Newtown to help those in need of assistance. Food, rent, and energy costs are the most significant requests for help.

Last year the Red Kettle collections and donations from individuals and corporations raised over $10,000. This money helps to address the needs of friends and neighbors in Newtown. The local unit of the Salvation Army expects the need for assistance will be even greater this year.

Providing assistance is a year-round endeavor. In July the local unit of the Salvation Army held its one-day “Christmas in July” collection. It was able to assist the Newtown Human Services Department to continue to help support Newtown families during the late summer months.

How To Help

The Newtown unit needs help in the form of time and money.

For those who can spare an hour to ring during the weekends of December 4-5 and 11-12, contact the Salvation Army to get an hour’s time slot at a location in Newtown.

An online sign-up link is available at https://bit.ly/SalvNewtown.

Organizations, clubs, and other groups that would like to ring for all or part of a day are invited to e-mail SANewtownBethel@gmail.com.

For those who do not have time to ring, donations are also appreciated. Donations can be mailed to Newtown Salvation Army c/o Newtown Human Services, 28 Trades Lane, Newtown CT 06470.

They can also be dropped in a red kettle when seen around town, with whatever someone can afford.

Additionally, donations for the local Salvation Army unit can be offered online at salarmy.us/NewtownRedKettle.

All forms of support are true Christmas miracles, according to Glenn Nanavaty. The president of the local Salvation Army, Nanavaty also offers his thanks “for the incredible support that you are giving to the children, families, and seniors when they need it most. As we head into the holiday season, many more people will be reaching out for help, some for the very first time. We all need to do what we can to help.”