Falls City preparing for holidays, pandemic adds extra need for Red Kettle Campaign

FALLS CITY – Falls City is preparing for the holidays with street decorations, Shop Small Saturday promotion and volunteer recruiting for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign.

Sherry Huddleston family development specialist for Southeast Nebraska Community Action said bell ringers are needed for three shifts at SunMart and Sapp Bros 66 from the Saturday after Thanksgiving through Dec. 22.

 

Huddleston: “I think the red kettle is something that people know. It has been around for years, so when they see them during the holidays they are in that giving spirit, so they give.”

 

Huddleston: “If we earn enough, we do special projects. Like this year, for the special project I teamed up with Partners in Education and we did school supplies and backpacks.”

She said volunteers are encouraged that 90 percent of donations go for people in Richardson County.

 

Huddleston: “I just tell them what it’s used for and how much stays here in Falls City and it really does make a difference in our communities, especially right now during COVID-19. We’ve had a lot more people without work, struggling to make ends meet, but can’t find jobs because obviously nobody is hiring because of the uptick.”

She said people need help with rent, utilities and food. 

The bell ringers will be instructed in some extra  personal protective equipment and CDC guidelines for social distancing and face coverings.

Kettles will be sanitized regularly and Apple and Google pay technology will be available for contactless donations.

 Falls City Chamber and Main Street Director Amber Holle was also getting ready for Shop Small Saturday.

 

She was delivering supply bags that include a punch card that could win a lucky shopper gift cards from participating stores and Chamber Bucks.

Amber Holle: “When you get your card filled, $100 worth, you drop it into a bag. At the end of December we raffle off 30 gift cards and $500 in Chamber Bucks to a lucky winner.”