Take a look beyond thoseholiday kettles and bells

Holiday kettles and bells are the most common images people have of The Salvation Army. But look a little further and you will find that we offer a diverse array of social service programs catering to the needs of children, families, seniors and individuals.

In 1891, Salvation Army Capt. Joseph McFee was distraught because so many poor individuals in San Francisco were going hungry. As he pondered the issue, his thoughts 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 McFee placed a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing at the foot of Market Street. Beside the pot, he placed a sign that read, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” He soon had the money to see that the needy people were properly fed at Christmas.

Since 1889, The Salvation Army has been doing the most good in Thurston County. Thank you for supporting our Red Kettle program.

This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 1:24 PM with the headline "Take a look beyond thoseholiday kettles and bells."