Kettles and Baskets

WHO WE ARE | HISTORY

Indelible was the mark made on American culture in December 1891 when two inventors of a different kind came up with similar but revolutionary ideas: Joseph McFee, of San Francisco, Calif., and James Naismith of Montreal, Canada.

Naismith taught 18 men to play a game which required that they drop a ball into an elevated peach basket. At the time, they were students at the School for Christian Workers (later the International YMCA Training School, now Springfield College) in Springfield, Mass., and needed something to do for recreation. They quickly learned to enjoy the activity, as it attracted crowds who cheered whenever a player scored a goal.

Dr. Naismith, who introduced his invention—the game of basketball—never imagined it would grow into a sport that today is played by more than 300 million people worldwide.

Keep the pot boiling

Meanwhile, Joseph McFee, a Salvation Army pastor, was distraught because so many poor individuals in San Francisco went hungry. During the holiday season, he resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner for 1,000 of the city's poorest individuals. However, finding funding for the project was an intimidating challenge for the former English sailor.

As he thought about the problem, his mind drifted back to his sailor days in Liverpool, England. He remembered how at Stage Landing, where the boats came in, there was a large, iron kettle called "Simpson's Pot" into which passers–by tossed a coin or two to help the poor.

The next day, Captain McFee got a crab pot from a local wharf and placed it at the junction of Oakland Ferry Landing and Market Street. To elevate the pot, He hung it from a tripod. He also placed a sign above it that read, "Keep the Pot Boiling."

McFee adorned it with a colorful plant to attract onlookers. He and other officers wore their blue uniforms. Women wore a bonnet and a cape; men wore epaulets on their shoulders and a cap. They took turns ringing the bell.

Just as Naismith taught his students to drop a ball into a basket, McFee also taught passers–by to drop financial donations into a kettle. In doing so, both ballplayers and donors captured the exhilarating feeling that comes when one finds purpose and meaning in reaching a goal—be it points scored in a basketball game or funds raised to help the poor.

From coast to coast

Six years later, Salvation Army kettles had spread from the west coast to the east coast’s Boston area. That year, the combined effort nationwide resulted in 150,000 Christmas dinners being served for needy individuals and families.

In 1901, kettle contributions in New York City provided funds for the first sit–down dinner in Madison Square Garden, a tradition that started long before the first basketball game was played there in 1925. McFee’s kettle was so successful that it launched a global tradition.

Today in the United States, The Salvation Army assists more than 4.5 million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Kettles are now used in such distant lands as Korea, Japan, Chile, and many European countries. Contributions to the kettles enable The Salvation Army to continue its year–round effort to help people who would otherwise go hungry.

SA and NBRA team up

In June of 2020, the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) teamed up with The Salvation Army to raise money and awareness to support long–term response efforts to help people affected by COVID–19. Members of the NBRA, which includes members of the National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association and G League, selected The Salvation Army as their partner due to the organization’s ability to provide a wide range of essential, tailored services to meet the needs of local communities, as well as their national and international reach.

A $25,000 gift from the NBRA was divided among The Salvation Army USA and The Salvation Army of Canada, representing the breadth of teams in the three member leagues. The funds will be used specifically for COVID–19 response and services, including food, shelter, rent and utility assistance, and other services for people affected by the pandemic.

“During this challenging time, we have discussed as a group how we can best give back,” said Mark Denesuk, NBRA spokesperson. “Like so many, our jobs were put on hold, but we are fortunate that the financial impact was not as great for us as it is for the country’s most vulnerable. We know The Salvation Army has the network and capability to use this gift to its fullest potential and impact the lives of those who are struggling in the United States and Canada.”

As social restrictions lift across the country, the NBRA and The Salvation Army will plan a volunteer day so that members can see the direct, positive impact that this donation will have.

by Warren L. Maye

The Salvation Army annually helps nearly 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services.

By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol misuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is “doing the most good” at 7,600 centers of operation around the country.

In the first–ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct–service nonprofit.

For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.

To contribute to the NBRA’s donation, visit salarmy.us/nbra.