Service club to ring in the holidays

Contributed by Ron Beeber.

PENTWATER — Men and women of the Pentwater Service Club will staff a Salvation Army Red Kettle collection point in front of the the Pentwater Post Office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19.  

This continues a service club outreach project started over 25 years ago.  The club is kicking off this year’s drive with a $200 contribution raised from food sales during the year.   

The Salvation Army Red Kettle tradition dates back to 1891 in San Francisco when one of its captains put out an iron kettle to collect funds so people in need were properly fed during the holidays. Today, contributions into the kettles from passersby enable the organization to continue its year-round efforts to help those who would be otherwise forgotten.

Through the local outreach of the Salvation Army’s Family Social Service Center on Melendy Street in Ludington, those needing a hand can receive help with food, personal care items, utility payments, emergency shelter, rent/mortgage payments, medical prescriptions, clothing and furniture.   

“We serve thousands of people during the year, and we must stretch our resources to the maximum to serve as many people as we can with the resources we have been blessed with for our community,” says a posting on the Salvation Army website.   

On Nov. 28 in Rosemount, Minnesota, a local couple made a record, $500,000 contribution into a red kettle. The couple, who asked the Salvation Army not to disclose their identities, told the Twin Cities Salvation Army that they hoped the gift would encourage others to donate this holiday season.

“We don’t expect anyone here to top them,” said Service Club president Ron Christians. “But wouldn’t it be great if 50,000 people stopped by the Pentwater Post Office on our two collection days and each dropped a $10 bill into our kettle,” he added with a smile.