The Salvation Army continues Red Kettle fund drive

Julie Brown, Staff Writer

The Metro Detroit kettle of The Salvation Army
holds honors as the world's tallest at 56 feet.
Leaders of The Salvation Army appreciate all
donors and note fundraising runs
through the end of January.

Those volunteer bell ringers outside businesses throughout the area during the holidays collecting for the Salvation Army may have disappeared, but the work of the organization continues year round.
Salvation Army officers and volunteers work at disaster sites worldwide and across the country throughout the year to help feed, clothe and shelter people along with the efforts of the group in teaching budgeting, combating human trafficking, offering youth character building programs, and helping those with addictions become clean and sober.
The Plymouth Corps of the Salvation Army, as of Jan. 3, reached $171,000 of the local $186,000 Red Kettle fundraising goal while the Wayne-Westland Salvation Army Corps has collected $110,000 of the $129,000 goal set for this season.

Sandy Kollinger, Plymouth Corps volunteer coordinator, encourages donations through Jan. 31.
“The best way is to bring the donation to our office,” at 9451 S. Main St., Plymouth, she said. Cash, checks, and major credit cards can be used at the Plymouth Corps, which is on the west side of Main south of Ann Arbor Road.
The Plymouth Corps is open 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Donations sustain the year-round Salvation Army programs and services.
The Plymouth Corps serves Belleville, Canton, Plymouth, and Northville residents.
Kollinger notes her corps also helped some 200 families with food and toys through the Toy Shop this Christmas.
Using Apple and Google Pay at the Red Kettles has been initiated “to compensate for people carrying less cash” while holiday shopping, she added.
The Wayne-Westland Salvation Army Corps, 2300 S. Venoy Road, Westland, was also  busy this Christmas season, Corps Administrator Andrew Barylski said.
“Giving can still take place to help meet the Red Kettle goal through Jan. 31,” Barylski said. For his corps, mailing or dropping off a check at the Venoy location, on the west side of Venoy south of Palmer Road is preferable. Hours at that corps are 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
He agreed, too, that fewer shoppers carry cash these days which impacted donations.
“That is a reality,” he said.
One of the popular services at the Wayne-Westland facility is the after-school program for students which is free and offers not just homework help, recreation and some field trips but also a hot meal each night.
“As it gets colder, we get more kids,” Barylski said. He appreciates bell ringers and other Salvation Army volunteers, noting volunteer hours at his corps have gone up the past few years “which was very encouraging.”
Utility payment help is also offered through the Salvation Army with Barylski noting “All of our programs year-round are supported by the Red Kettle, everything that happens at the Wayne-Westland Salvation Army.”
His corps services Inkster, Wayne, Westland, Romulus and New Boston residents.