FIRST TIME EVER: NO CHANGE NEEDED TO DONATE TO THE SALVATION ARMY RED KETTLES

 Eureka, CA - The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without the Salvation Army bell ringers and their famous red kettles. But this year they are facing a shortage of donations. However, now there is a new way to donate money, no change needed.
 
Every year we know the holidays are here when we see those cheerful workers dressed in red, standing next to these famous red kettles. Bell ringer John Gordon said, "I have so much fun doing it. I meet so many great people."
 
John Gordon has been a bell ringer for 5 years. Rain or shine he stands at his post for 8 hours a day. Gordon added, "You endure whatever the weather brings up. The heat, the cold, the rain the wind. But it’s all worth while."
 
But today its not the bad weather they are enduring, it’s the lack of money. Kettle donations are down 25 percent. Lt. Danielson said, "We are short are 20 thousand dollars. At the end of the year we will probably be short about 23 thousand."
 
Donations may be down but it’s easier to donate now more than ever. You can donate by sending a text or by scanning the QR code at any Salvation Army kettle stand. Lt. Danielson added, "with an app on your smart phone you can download the QR reader and you can actually donate to the kettles through the QR code or a text."
 
It’s as easy as that, no change needed. Salvation Army officials say if they don’t reach their goal it’s the children who will feel the hit. Lt. Danielson added, "We are looking for another 37 hundred toys… so I have to go purchase toys. And to purchase that we need funds. Funds that we really don't have right now."
 
Currently they serve 600 families and they say they can only hope that they will get enough money to help them all.
 
To donate you can text “IGIVE EUREKA” to 8-0-8-8-8.
This will send an automatic $10 donation to the Eureka Salvation Army.