On this, the last day of the 2023 physical Columbus Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign collection, Capt. Amy Tompkins is optimistic.
The social service nonprofit and Christian church is ahead of last year’s total before transitioning from a kettle fundraising push to an online and snail-mail one — all before the official campaign deadline of Jan. 31.
“We’re at a higher total than we were at this time last year, thanks mostly to all the local businesses providing matching funds,” said Tompkins, the leader of the local office.
With a goal of $150,000, the current campaign stood at $72,000 days ago — much better than a $40,000 mark a year ago. That near-halfway point of a total goal matches what other Salvation Army offices statewide are reporting, according to Samantha Hyde.
She’s the Salvation Army Indiana Division’s director of community relations. Hyde also acknowledged that the fundraising struggles seen here for at least 15 years — for bell ringers, for merchants’ permission to place kettles at store entrances and such — have been evident throughout Indiana because of changing times, a shift toward online shopping and more.
“The Salvation Army Red Kettles are iconic,” Hyde said. “We’ve all seen them out in front of stores for decades. But as more and more of of our society is becoming cashless, and as more people shop online, we’re finding that donations coming into those kettles have declined, though people’s needs certainly haven’t declined.
“In fact, they’ve increased. … Yet, we’re often seeing fewer dollars coming into the kettles, partly because of fewer locations (for kettles). And there are fewer volunteers standing out in the cold, ringing a bell for a good cause.
“All that makes it more and more difficult to raise funds in those kettles.
“But all those (outreach) ministries? The needs connected to them certainly do not go away.”
For example, locally, the Salvation Army currently is serving a record 1,160 people monthly at its food pantry alone. And that outreach doesn’t include those seeking help with rent or utilities.
“It’s getting harder to stock those pantries, since the bulk food prices have gone up,” Hyde said. “And it’s hard to ask
Statewide, the outreach is substantial.
In 2022, The Salvation Army Indiana Division provided more than 2.2 million meals to hungry Hoosiers, almost 120,000 safe nights of shelter, and basic social services to more than 178,000 individuals across Indiana, according to its figures.
Plus, the Salvation Army offers free summer camps to youth, after-school activities and other family-oriented helps. Its assistance is based on residents’ needs, no matter their background or belief. Tompkins has even gone out of her way in the past to allow a homeless person or two to shower at the office at 2525 Illinois St.
Also, at this time of year, its Angel Tree allows local residents to buy gifts for needy young people and even lonely seniors. Plus, another project purchases Christmas gifts for children of the incarcerated to give to their parents.
“I think that people here realize the hurt that people are feeling — and the fact that we have bigger shoes to fill now,” Tompkins said.
She added that needs for assistance overall have increased easily 20 to 30% this calendar year. And she regularly reminds people that nearly 90% of local kettle campaign donations go directly to the cause.
“I know that the staff at Love Chapel (food pantry) are feeling all that, too,” Tompkins said.
Hyde said she is upbeat about the various offices across the state reaching their financial goal.
“I am always optimistic,” Hyde said. “We have seen miracles before.”
How to help
Can’t find a kettle today? Donations can be made online at sacolumbus.org. They also can be mailed to or dropped off at Salvation Army, 2525 Illinois St., Columbus, IN 47201.
