THE SALVATION ARMY OF FARGO

Words by Marie Laska

IIt is during this time of year that the Red River Valley becomes more awash in colors than ever. From the green and gold signs celebrating the NDSU Bison to the autumn palette adorning local trees, the visual vibrancy becomes a stunning curtain call prior to the arrival of the winter months. Invoking thoughts of friend and family get togethers over upcoming holidays, the changing of the seasons also brings a renewed connection to one’s community and their role within it.

It is this sense of community that brought about the creation of the Christmas Kettles, which emerge annually as part of the Salvation Army of Fargo’s popular Red Kettle Campaign. Drawing on a tradition from Liverpool, England where a simple pot was put out and into which charitable donations were thrown, a Salvation Army Captain in San Francisco – with a goal of providing a free Christmas dinner to the area’s poor – placed a similar pot close to the foot traffic from the ferry boats. This was during the Christmas of 1891 and since then the kettle has been established worldwide as a means of sharing the spirit of Christmas. The sound of a bell being rung by volunteers standing over a kettle has come to represent the sound of hope for over

4,500,000 people helped annually by the Salvation Army in the United States alone. The bright red of the kettle amongst the bleakness of winter has become a well-known symbol of giving back to one’s community and helping those less fortunate, and in 2014 almost $900,000 was raised in Fargo alone.

This year the Campaign kicks off on November 16 at 8:30 a.m. outside of JC Penney’s inside West Acres Mall. Along with refreshments and musical accompaniment by the NDSU Brass Quintet, announcements will be made regarding the Red Kettle Campaign’s 2015 goal and the yearly Community Challenge (which takes place over several weeks starting in early December). Public Relations Manager Kimberly Wagner explains that the Community Challenge creates a friendly competition amongst “Realtors, law enforcement and firefighters” who “challenge each other by ringing on three separate days and seeing who can raise the most money.” In addition, Concordia, NDSU and MSUM have initiated a Mascot Challenge where the universities’ respective students and mascots compete over the first weekend of December to see who can raise the highest amount of money. One Fargo family has also created a decades-long tradition where they come to - gether to ring the bell on a certain day every year. Other traditions include anonymous donors who create excitement for the volunteers by leaving a gold coin in the kettles. Some volunteers have even been known to ring the bell between 3050 hours every season and have become familiar faces outside of storefronts amidst the bustle of Christmas.

As popular as the Campaign has become, the Salvation Army of Fargo also works hard on going “Beyond the Kettle” in the services that it provides. Along with serving meals seven days per week at their downtown worship and spiritual services center, in 2014 the Salvation Army served over 23,000 people in Fargo-Moorhead through a multitude of other programs. These programs include supporting first responders during emergency calls, handing out over 1,000 personal care kits, helping hundreds of households with utility or housing costs, providing meals to children at three different locations (including two parks and a church through the Mobile Outreach Meals program) and donating several thousand gently used coats and winter accessories to children and adults in need. In November the Salvation Army also embarks upon its Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets campaign, donating holiday food boxes to families in need.

Major Byron Medlock, thirty-year volunteer and Officer/Pastor of the Salvation Army of Fargo, became involved with the Army through his wife, Major Elaine Medlock, and his coinciding spiritual beliefs. Thinking about how “Fargo/ Moorhead is unique in its high levels of generosity and support,” Major Medlock states that because of that support the Salvation Army is able to address the holistic needs of an individual or a family: “We’re there to help people get through the tough times. To help them get back on their feet and off of the system.” Reflecting upon the 17,000 volunteer hours in 2014 that allowed the Salvation Army to fulfill its mission, Major Medlock simply remarked, “We are blessed.”

For further information on volunteer opportunities or to donate items to families in need, please visit www.salvationarmynorth.com/fargo