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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Heralding in the holidays, bell ringers from the Salvation Army are back to seek out donations for those in need— though the Red Kettle campaign has run into some technology-related roadblocks.
WBZ's Chris Fama spoke to the SA Massachusetts' General Secretary Major Scott Kelly, who said modern hurdles to the giving season are coming in the form of online shopping, which keeps commerce away from physical stores and out of sight.
"That's part of it, and part of it is a lot of people don't carry cash these days. Some of our locations [have] QR codes that people can contribute to digitally," Kelly said.
Kelly says bell ringers can face steep hardships depending on the weather, but that only makes the charity efforts that much sweeter and important.
"It is a difficult job, it gets cold and the days get long, [but] it's fun to be out and great people and interact with people. I've done lots of days out on a Red Kettle, cold days. Lots and lots of practice," Kelly said.
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Compared to previous holiday seasons, Kelly says this year has proven to be especially dire for some families in the Commonwealth.
"We're seeing a lot of increase need, some of our locations have seen as much as 50 percent over last year for rent and utility assistance, food for needy families, we do day care centers, emergency disaster services, people who are coming to us and saying 'I've never needed the help of the SA, but I do now.' For some of us, that might be our next door neighbor. With the economy the way it is, and the costs being what they are, small donations make a big difference— this year is different," Kelly said.
WBZ's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports.
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