Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – The sounds of ringing bells will soon echo across Northeast Arkansas as the Salvation Army of Jonesboro prepares to kick off its annual Red Kettle Campaign.
The campaign aims to raise $100,000 for the Salvation Army of Jonesboro, benefitting its various year-round programs such as its emergency overnight homeless shelter, community meals, food pantry, and other social services.
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“This is our biggest fundraising event for the year, and this money goes towards sustaining our programs throughout the year as much as it possibly can. So, it’s a very, very important time for us,” said Maj. Jon-Phil Winter, commanding officer of the Salvation Army of Jonesboro.
The campaign, which kicks off Friday, Nov. 13 and lasts through Dec. 24, is looking for volunteers. Anyone can sign up to be a volunteer to ring bells and collect donations at businesses across Northeast Arkansas, however, Winter said any minors who volunteer must have an adult accompanying them.
Volunteers will be ringing bells at the following locations:
- Walmart Supercenter: 1911 W. Parker Road, Jonesboro
- Walmart Neighborhood Market: 3319 Harrisburg Road, Jonesboro
- Walmart Neighborhood Market: 2811 Creek Drive, Jonesboro
- Walmart Supercenter: 1815 E. Highland Drive, Jonesboro
- Hobby Lobby: 1843 E. Highland Drive, Jonesboro
- JCPenney: 3000 E. Highland Drive, Jonesboro
- Dillards: 3000 E. Highland Drive, Jonesboro (Bell ringers will be set up at the main and back doors.)
- Kroger: 1725 S. Caraway Road, Jonesboro (Bell ringers will be in front of both the pharmacy and grocery doors.)
- Harps: 2005 Harrisburg Road, Jonesboro
- Belk: 2415 W. Kingshighway, Paragould
- Pharmacy Entrance at Walmart Supercenter: 2802 W. Kingshighway, Paragould
- Walmart Neighborhood Market: 2600 Linwood Drive, Paragould
- Walmart Supercenter: 512 Industrial Park Drive, Trumann
- Walmart: 1600 W. Main St., Walnut Ridge
- Walmart: 1415 U.S. Highway 67, Pocahontas
Those wishing to volunteer can register online here, where they can select their desired bell-ringing location and what time their shift starts. Shifts are four hours long, and are either from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Any type of monetary donation will be accepted, including cash, checks, and digital transactions. A QR code will be set up at all Red Kettle locations to allow for digital giving, and any checks written need to be made out to the Salvation Army. Donations can also be made online at any time of the year here.
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For those living in local zip codes, Winter said that will ensure donations made by check stays in the area, while those who do not have an NEA zip code need to include “Jonesboro” in the memo line.
“We just want to be a part of that process where people are giving and say, ‘Hey, look, there are some other here that need some help,'” Winter said. “If you can give towards that, it’s not just that you’re giving at Christmas. This is a gift that can keep on providing for people throughout the year that are going to have needs.”
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