Salvation Army Announces First-Ever Red Kettle Run to Support Children, Families and Seniors in Need

The Salvation Army today announced the first-ever Red Kettle Run through downtown Boston.

Registration is now available for local businesses, organizations and individuals who would like to participate in the Red Kettle Run, which kicks off the annual campaign on November 13. The event – the first of its kind in Massachusetts – will feature teams of three individuals who will take the Red Kettles on the move through the streets of downtown Boston to raise funds for The Salvation Army.

“The Red Kettles are a part of the holiday tradition in Boston, and for the first time ever, we are taking them on the move to support individuals and families in need throughout Massachusetts,” said Major Ivan Rock, general secretary of The Salvation Army in Massachusetts.  “We’re inviting local businesses, college teams, nonprofit organizations and residents through the area to come together and participate in a great event that will be a lot of fun and help in those in need.”

The Salvation Army Red Kettles are a hallmark of the holiday season each year in Massachusetts.  Funds raised from the kettles cover the cost of vital social services, education and emergency services programs for hundreds of thousands of children, families and seniors throughout the Commonwealth during the entire year. 

“This year we’ve set an ambitious Kettle Campaign fundraising goal of $3.5 million to help more families in need,” added Major Rock. “This year features one of the shortest periods ever between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so we’re hoping to start strong.  This Kettle Campaign is critical to our fundraising efforts, particularly given the rising cost of heat, and the tens of thousands of individuals struggling to find work in the Commonwealth.”

The Red Kettle Run will start in front of the Brewster Fountain on the Boston Common at noon on November 13. Each team of three individuals will be assigned a specific area of downtown Boston and will have one hour to take their Red Kettles through the streets to seek donations from individuals and local businesses. After one hour, teams will meet back at the fountain. 

The Red Kettle Run will kick off with a live broadcast hosted by WCVB Channel 5 Newsmagazine Co-Anchor J.C. Monahan and David Brown, Chief Advancement Officer at the Forsyth Institute will be leading a Kettle Run team.

For more information or to register to participate, please contact Ashley Kouyoumjian at ashleykouyoumjian@use.salvationarmy.org or (339)502-5850, or visit www.salvationarmyma.org/redkettlerun.