On Tuesday afternoon at a local grocery store, a Salvation Army’s kettle driver dropped off a Red Kettle to a girl posing as a bellringer. When the driver came back in the early evening, only the new Tip Tap kettle stand was there. No bucket and no battery for the sign. The individual posing as a bell ringer collected donations and fled the scene with the kettle and the sign battery before the driver returned.
“Unfortunately, though this does happen from time-to-time around the country, it’s the first time it has happened to us in Spokane in several years. The sadness of this situation is that it means less for people who desperately need a hand-up from The Salvation Army,” said Major Ken Perine of The Salvation Army Spokane. “We are already facing a shortage in donations to the Red Kettles this Christmas season, and this situation certainly doesn’t help!”
“I pray that we will be able to overcome the stolen kettle and the shortfall that we are facing at the Red Kettles and through our virtual kettles so that we can help brighten Christmas for individuals who are truly in need,” added Major Perine.
The Salvation Army will have its Red Kettles out until Christmas-Eve in the counties of Spokane and Stevens. This is the 130th anniversary of the Red Kettle campaign.
Donations can also be given online by visiting
and clicking on the Virtual Red Kettle, or by mail at The Salvation Army, 222 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane, WA 99207. If mailing a