Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive Down Thousands This Year

“The Boys and Girls Club has been my support system my entire high school career,” said Tatiana Aguilar with Boys & Girls Club of Charlotte.

Tatiana Aguilar is applying for college she says thanks to the Boys and Girls Club program. It’s one of the two main programs Salvation Army Major Larry Broome says depends on kettle drive funds to help them through the year.

“One of our biggest programs is our Center of Hope Women’s and Children’s shelter, 340 beds that is constantly full ,” said Salvation Army Charlotte Area Commander, Major Larry Broome.

Major Broome says this year the kettles are down about $28,000 dollars.

“It will make a big difference in being able to feed people, being able to house them, being able to have salaries for those people that are good role models for the kids at the clubs,” said Major Broome.

Major Broome says part of the struggle is finding kettle bell ringers and how people carry money.

“Think one thing that might affect the income this year too is that people don’t carry as much cash anymore, so we have added to our kettle signs the ability to be able to text to give,” said Major Broome.

Aguilar says it’s people’s giving over the years that has helped make all the difference in her life.

“I’ve been able to take leadership roles as well as role of a student who was able to learn from these programs,” said Aguilar.