Shoppers in south western Kentucky will soon hear the tinker of bells in front of their favorite businesses, thanks to the annual Kettle season brought forth by the Salvation Army of Hopkinsville.
During Tuesday afternoon’s joint meeting with the Hopkinsville Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club of Hopkinsville, the 2024 Kettle Kickoff fundraiser brought in $1,146 of a $150,000 goal…$809.60 from Rotary, and $337 from Kiwanis.
Despite being playful rivals, always referencing “the other club,” their missions aren’t dissimilar — each looking to better the community in which they live, work and play.
But make no mistake. There’s a competition to be had this Christmas season.
Donning a championship wrestling belt earned from a previous Salvation Army stop, Lieutenant David Donegan — a Rotarian — challenged his club to have not only the most bell ringers, but to also offer the most financial support over the next few weeks.
Win, and he gets to keep the belt in his office for the next year — where he maybe wears it to a few meetings.
Lose, and he will briefly cede ownership of it to his wife, fellow Lieutenant and Kiwanian, Brittney, before next year’s Kettle Kickoff.
Celebrating their first year in Christian County after following the Galabeas family’s transition to Nashville, David, Britney and their staff have already been a part of an organization that in the last 12 months:
+ provided more than 48,700 meals
+ delivered more than 44,900 bags and boxes of groceries
+ offered more than 8,600 nights of shelter
+ awarded more than 9,100 clothing vouchers
+ collected more than 1,700 Angel Tree gifts for children and young adults
+ and transitioned more than 80 people into permanent housing situations, where nearly 100% remain today.
David also noted there is “much work to be done” in the months ahead, with several positive announcements possibly on the horizon for the local non-profit.
In the meantime, he asked the clubs to reflect on two passages from the Holy Bible — II Corinthians 9:7 and Matthew 25:40 — and from the final spoken speech of The Salvation Army’s founder William Booth.
Not a member of either club? One can still sign up to ring the bells this year at registertoring.com.
In other club news:
— Rotary President Kelly Gates passed along a check to Kiwanis President Nikki Chambers, valued at $1,000 for the “Warm the Children” campaign. Kiwanis is working to raise at least $20,000 for this annual cause.
