By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-933575.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Salvation Army kicked off the annual North Texas "Red Kettle" campaign this morning in front of Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas. KERA's BJ Austin reports.
Mayor Tom Leppert and City Manager Mary Suhm rang the trademark gold bell and put the first donations for 2010 into a Salvation Army red kettle.
Mayor Leppert says spare change dropped into a red kettle can make a big difference in the lives of many North Texans.
Leppert: It is a tough time for a lot of families out there. The economy is still struggling. We've got some challenges. But what is great about the people of our community is that they always reach out and they always dig a little bit deeper. This is a great opportunity.
Last year's Red Kettle campaign in North Texas set a record: 2.5 million dollars.
Ward and Michelle Matthews, with the Salvation Army, say the Red Kettle campaign is critical to the Army's ability to help struggling families.
Ward Matthews: The funds that are brought in through the Red Kettle program support a host of programs the Salvation Army uses to meet human need in the metroplex 365 days a year.
Michelle Matthews: Red Kettle donations are local. They're raised locally. They stay locally.
Pat Patey, with the Salvation Army, says there's something new this year: a mobile bell-ringer APP for your phone.
Patey: People can make donations by text over their cellphones. They'll get an opportunity to make a donation, also invite their friends to make a donation. And they can download the sound of a Salvation Army bell ringing at this season that can be the ringtone on their phone. So, it's a new opportunity and we hope people will get excited about it.
Starting today, there are 215 red kettles manned by bell ringers at locations in North Texas. That will more-than double the day after Thanksgiving.