Army turns to web for donations

• December 1891: Capt. Joseph McFee looked for a way to provide a free Christmas dinner to the area’s poor. He placed a pot at the Oakland ferry landing for donations. A brass urn was placed on a stand in the waiting room for the same purpose.


• Christmas 1895: The kettle was used in 30 Salvation Army locations in the West Coast. A short time later, Salvation Army officers William A. McIntyre and N.J. Lewis were transferred to the East Coast and took the idea of the Christmas kettle with them.


• 1897: The kettle effort provided 150,000 Christmas dinners for the needy.


• Today: Money donated to the Red Kettle Campaign makes it possible for The Salvation Army to help 30 million people each year. Kettles are now used in Korea, Japan, Chile and many European countries.


Where the money goes:
• Disaster response services;
• Social service;
• Casework and counseling;
• Youth services;
• Senior centers;
• Christmas programs;
• Providing services and advocacy for victims of human and sexual trafficking.