Keep the Pot Boiling:
The Salvation Army Red Kettle

For over 130 years, The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, with its iconic red kettle and bellringer (attendant), has been part of the American Christmas tradition. The familiar ting-a-ling sound of a handheld bell can be heard on street corners and outside of shops around the country from November through Christmas Eve. Begun in San Francisco, California in 1891, the Red Kettle Campaign spread across the United States and to countries around the world. Today, it continues to provide Christmas meals for those in need and is also a critical funding source for Salvation Army programs held year-round.