A DROP IN THE BUCKET : SALVATION ARMY COUNTS ON KETTLES TO FUND CHARITY PROGRAMS.Byline: Tracy Valeri Daily News Staff Writer They use nothing but kettles, bells and smiles to do their jobs, but their Christmas season collections make up as much as 20 percent of the Salvation Army Salvation Army, Protestant denomination and international nonsectarian Christian organization for evangelical and philanthropic work. Organization and Beliefs The Salvation Army has established branches in 100 countries throughout the world. budget in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . They're called bell ringers, and they've been a tradition of sorts for over 100 years in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . They're stationed at 20 locations throughout the Valley - mostly outside stores and post offices. This year the organization expects to serve 375,000 people in the Southern California Division with a kettle goal for $1.6 million. The Valley's goal, based on last year's totals, is $70,000. For some bell ringers, it's more than just a job. ``I love it,'' said Zane Miller, who is business manager of the Army's Van Nuys church, but volunteers as a bell ringer on Mondays. ``I think it gives the public a chance to give, and they are generous this season and always have been in my experience,'' he said. The Christmas bell ringer campaign actually begins in the summer each year. In September the Salvation Army writes courtesy letters to the stores and post offices informing them that bell ringers will be standing outside their doors collecting funds from shoppers who drop money into the trademark pots. Many of the stores have a history with the Salvation Army and do not object to the kettles near their entrances, Miller said. Local stores including most Targets, some Kmarts, post offices and many major department stores This is a list of department stores. In the case of department store groups the location of the flagship store is given. This list does not include large specialist stores, which sometimes resemble department stores. like Robinsons-May and Sears in the Topanga Plaza will have kettles out this season. In addition to the San Fernando Valley, other kettles will be in the Conejo and Antelope Valleys This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley , Burbank, Glendale, Oxnard and Ventura. Miller says that locations near holiday shoppers and heavy foot traffic are the most fruitful places to collect. Besides making use of Miller and other volunteers, the Salvation Army also begins hiring bell ringers beginning in October. It's a four-week job - starting the day after Thanksgiving and continuing until Christmas Eve. Most of those hired are unemployed and many do not have transportation. So about 60 percent are driven from Salvation Army churches to their bell ringing stations and back at the end of the work day. The money given to the San Fernando Valley Corps goes into a Salvation Army bank account that funds 15 to 20 percent of the Valley budget for the year. About 500 families - including 1,000 children - will receive food baskets  This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers.Please [improve the article] or discuss this issue on the talk page. , toy baskets or both this Christmas from the account. The organization assists people in a number of ways all year long with programs that include services for youths and families coping with HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. or AIDS. The Salvation Army also provides day care for full-time working single parents, transitional housing for families, drug and alcohol rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. , and gives assistance to senior citizens and veterans. As an added treat during the holiday season every year, a brass band made up of mostly retired band masters from the military volunteer to play at least once on a Saturday at each of the kettle sites. The bell ringers received a little extra recognition this week. Gov. Pete Wilson For others named Pete Wilson, see . Peter Barton Wilson (born August 23, 1933) is an American Republican politician from California. Wilson served as the thirty-sixth Governor of California (1991–1999), the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that released a proclamation An act that formally declares to the general public that the government has acted in a particular way. A written or printed document issued by a superior government executive, such as the president or governor, which sets out such a declaration by the government. encouraging all Californians to help the Salvation Army bring holiday cheer to the less fortunate. Wilson declared this week Salvation Army Bell Ringing Week. Donations may be sent to: '96 Kettle Campaign, Salvation Army, 900 W. Ninth St., Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , CA 90015. Credit card donations: (800) 725-9005, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Karin Altankov carries on the tradition at the Topanga Plaza Mall. Bob Halvorsen/Daily News |
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