Author: Jennifer Lane

The Salvation Army Texas Division 2024

MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

This Red Kettle ringing season is 22 days long! Maximize your success by focusing on these 12 days of most impact! How? Mark your calendars, check out the ideas below & make plans for the special-focus ringing days.

November 29 Black Friday
Funnel volunteers to your 12 focused days within Register to Ring. Volunteers raise more funds than paid ringers!

November 30
Saturday Ring in Christmas on a musical note! Schedule carolers, singing groups & musicians alongside your regular ringers.

December 3 Giving Tuesday
Make the most of this global movement. Promote #GivingTuesday

December 6 Friday
Flash back Friday. Pull a list of ringers from 2021 & forward who haven’t rang in a while and invite them back.

December 7
Saturday
The Mayoral Challenge In your community, this might be police vs fire department or parks & rec vs municipal court.

December 13
Friday School groups: band cheerleaders, football team, honor society, chess club, PTA. Get a commitment before school is out.

December 14
Saturday
National Commander’s Red Kettle Challenge

December 19
Thursday
Focus on the family.
Skip pizza & a movie— make tonight special with a new family fundraising tradition. Bring the kids!

December 20
Friday
Concentrate on civic groups who want to be seen in the community. Find a way to make it fun or competitive for the members.

December 21 Saturday
Last minute shopping is on! Ask your Advisory Board members (past & present), their families & companies to cover this busy day.

December 23
Christmas Eve Eve
Ask corporate partners to engage their staff
for a day of giving or a holiday outing. Many employers pay their staff to volunteer.

December 24 Christmas Eve
Corps & church groups are loving folks who joyfully serve on this special night! Drop by a Christmas message or candy cane.

Register to Ring
Admin site: Admin.RegistertoRing.com (Setup, Toolkit, FAQ)
Volunteer site: RegiterToRing.com (promote everywhere)
Support: RTRSupport@SummitMarketing.com
Jennifer Lane

National Commander’s Red Kettle Challenge
Register for the National Commander’s Red Kettle Challenge
Contact your Walmart Use the tools on the NCRKC info sheet, Red Shield Toolkit
Engage Advisory Board, supporters & local media
WIN prizes in the TEX Divisional Commander’s Red Kettle Challenge

Resources for music at kettles
DHQ Music Department - contact Matt Broome
School bands and orchestras (Middle, High, College)
Corps or other church groups
Parks & Rec department music lessons
Music schools & instructors
Curbside Kettles, contact Philip Burn @ DHQ

Focus on the Family
Post on social media for family events & activities, moms’ groups
List your event in local parenting magazines, post at Family Store
Flyer cars at parking lots where families gather
Ask your local pizza delivery co. to put a flyer on their boxes
Host popcorn, hot chocolate & a movie for families after their shift
Promote at dogs parks & parties - ringing locations where pets are allowed
Engage Advisory Board and staff families

Giving Tuesday
Promote on social media — schedule posts
Engage local stakeholders
Share testimonials
Utilize NHQ resources & influencers

Civic & Social Groups
Chamber of Commerce/Jaycees
Rotary, Kiwanis, Toastmasters, Lions Club, Junior League
Motorcycle clubs, veterans, gardening
Girl/Boy Scouts, 4H
Police/Fire, Public Works
Media outlets (radio vs TV vs newspaper)
Create friendly competitions. Think traveling trophy

Flashback
Pull a list of past ringers from who haven’t rang in a while
Look at annual event sponsors from your past 4 years
Former advisory board members
Volunteers from other events

Advisory Boards
Each member rings
Challenge members to recruit 2 additional ringers
Make a list of extended family members to ring — have a prize
Ask their companies, churches, and recreational clubs to ring
Ask their companies for a financial match or sponsorship

Mayoral Challenge
Approach Mayors early
Engage local media
Facebook LIVE, “smack talk”
Consider police vs fire or DPS vs Sheriff
Find ideas at SalvationArmyTexas.org/Texas/KettleCon

Corporate Partners
Ask if they pay their employees for volunteering
Encourage a group outing/holiday party
Friendly internal competition among their departments
Make a gift on behalf of employees’ volunteer time, double the donation
Sponsor a kettle(s)

Engage school groups
School district, Elementary, Junior, High, College
School counselors, PTA
Honor Society, DECA, chess club, pep club, reading
Football, cheer, volleyball, archery, soccer, track
Create friendly competitions
Consider these groups for other volunteer opportunities (Angel Tree)

Corps & Church Involvement
Ask corps members to recruit their friends, family & co-workers
Schedule church groups
Ask to distribute flyers/business cards at the church
Put up flyers at the churches
Make a list of 10 churches to contact (remember the youth groups!)

The Salvation Army Texas Division 2024