The Newtown chapter of The Salvation Army began its 2016 Red Kettle Campaign last weekend, with volunteers stationed outside a number of Newtown businesses.

Steve Bennett and Anna Wiedemann are serving as co-chairs of the 2016 campaign. As of Monday, December 12, the two had nine available openings for Friday, December 16.

Volunteers spend one hour of their time standing outside a local business, ringing a bell and accepting donations for the Salvation Army. The public drops their donations into a small, secured red kettle. Volunteers never come into contact with the money being offered to the Salvation Army.

The openings on Friday are between 4 and 8 pm. Bell ringing can be done by one person, a couple, a family, a group of friends, et al.

The 2016 Red Kettle campaign is being hosted by Stop & Shop, Yankee Discount Wines & Liquors, Walgreens, Bottle Stop, Dunkin' Donuts and Sal e Pepe; Bottle Stop and Sal e Pepe are new locations for the local campaign.

Anyone interested in helping on Friday night is asked to contact Mrs Wiedemann at 203-417-3004 or .aroosterw@yahoo.com

Newtown Notes

During the 2015 annual campaign in Newtown, more than 120 volunteers helped raise more than $9,000.

According to the Salvation Army-Newtown chapter, 90 percent of the funds collected during Red Kettle Campaigns each year are used by the Newtown Social Services Department to assist residents of Newtown.

A total of 962 Newtown residents benefited in the past year as follows: 805 people benefited from The Salvation Army Newtown Food Pantry, 82 people received back-to-school aid (62 children received new backpacks, and 20 received gift cards to Payless ShoeSource for new school shoes); 39 people received utility and oil bills aid; 14 people received aid for gas for their vehicle, and another 14 received help paying their rent or mortgage; and three received medical aid. Four people also received help for other needs.

In addition to the donations received during the Kettle Campaign, the Salvation Army Newtown Chapter also received donations from local businesses, individuals, and civic organizations. Those who would like to make a donation for the 2016 campaign, to support the local work and mission of The Salvation Army, can visit salvationarmyct.org.

To make things still easier, the Newtown chapter has joined others who have created tiny url links so that the public can donate via text. To do that, text NewtownSA to 71777 or visit http://tinyurl.com/NewtownSA