The results of the Salvation Army of Alaska’s kettle fundraising campaign over the holiday season of 2020 are officially in, and they reached numbers higher than the organization has ever been able to accomplish. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, when the community has been suffering more than usual, Kenai residents stepped up to dig a little deeper.
Lieutenant Brandon Kyle shared details with KSRM, in his first year serving on the Kenai: “The Salvation Army was really more-so an in-between person, between those in-need and those that were able and generous enough to be able to help a fellow Kenai resident. We served more than ever this year! I was really shocked at what I saw. The numbers, the amount – we served over 181 families with food and toys, 390 children – some of those were from Tyonek and others from children who are children of inmates at Wildwood. We’re just so thankful that we’re able to be able to help in that way, in this community.”
He continued: “With our total donations, we were able to raise more than we have ever in our history, which is incredible, considering the need is greater but also that, perhaps, we were concerned that people weren’t able to give as much. People in the Kenai were more than happy to give and help each other out, and that’s just wonderful.”
Not only was the kettle campaign a success, but he added that the Salvation Army learned that keeping their stores open was a lesson learned last year. They closed stores for a couple of weeks, but the feedback received was that the stores were needed more than ever. He said that they are also happier than ever to accept donations right now, a time when so many people are in-need.
The Salvation Army has been in Alaska since 1898, in over 19 communities throughout the state.