The Salvation Army is synonymous with the Christmas season because of the familiar sound of the ringing bells at the bright red kettle stands.

What is the origin of the Christmas Kettles?

A Salvation Army Captain in San Francisco had resolved, in December of 1891, to provide a free Christmas dinner to the area's poor persons. But how would he pay for the food?

As he went about his daily tasks, the question stayed in his mind. Suddenly, his thoughts went back to his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England. On the stage landing he saw a large pot, called "Simpson's Pot" into which charitable donations were thrown by passers-by.

On the next morning, he secured permission from the authorities to place a similar pot at the Oakland ferry landing, at the foot of Market Street. No time was lost in securing the pot and placing it in a conspicuous position, so that it could be seen by all those going to and from the ferryboats. In addition, a brass urn was placed on a stand in the waiting room for the same purpose. Thus, Captain Joseph McFee launched a tradition that has spread not only throughout the United States, but also throughout the world.

By Christmas, 1895, the kettle was used in 30 Salvation Army locations in various sections of the West Coast area. The Sacramento Bee of that year carried a description of the Army's Christmas activities and mentioned the contributions to street corner kettles. Shortly afterward, two young Salvation Army officers who had been instrumental in the original use of the kettle, William A. McIntyre and N. J. Lewis, were transferred to the East. They took with them the idea of the Christmas kettle.

In 1897, McIntyre prepared his Christmas plans for Boston around the kettle, but his fellow officers refused to cooperate for fear of "making spectacles of themselves." So McIntyre, his wife and his sister set up three kettles at the Washington Street thoroughfare in the heart of the city. That year the kettle effort in Boston and other locations nationwide resulted in 150,000 Christmas dinners for the needy.

In 1898, the New York World hailed The Salvation Army kettles as "the newest and most novel device for collecting money." The newspaper also observed, "There is a man in charge to see that contributions are not stolen."

In 1901, kettle contributions in New York City provided funds for the first mammoth sit-down dinner in Madison Square Garden, a custom that continued for many years. The homeless and poor are still invited to share holiday dinners and festivities at hundreds of Salvation Army centers.

Kettles now are used in such distant lands as Korea, Japan, Chile, and in many European Countries. Everywhere, public contributions to the kettles enable The Salvation Army to bring the spirit of Christmas to those who would otherwise be forgotten — to the aged and lonely, the ill, the inmates of jails and other institutions, the poor and unfortunate.

Kettles have changed since the first utilitarian cauldron set up in San Francisco. Some of the new kettles have such devices as a self-ringing bell and a booth complete with public address system over which the traditional Christmas carols are broadcast. Behind it all, though, is the same Salvation Army message, "Sharing is Caring."

What does the metro-Tulsa Kettle Campaign do for our less fortunate?

The Tulsa Kettle Campaign helps provide funds to enable over 35,000 people have a brighter holiday season. Some of these services are:

• Serving over 2,500 special holiday feasts during the Christmas season
• Distributing nearly 85,000 toys and gifts to area needy children
• Giving over 5,000 holiday baskets to families for preparation of a special Christmas meal in their own home
• Bringing a warm smile and a holiday gift to over 5,800 area shut-ins

If you would like more information about other donation possibilities, please click here.

When do the bells begin to ring?

Traditionally, the kettle campaign begins the Friday before Thanksgiving and concludes on Christmas Eve. Shoppers will not hear the bells ringing on Sunday.

Who rings bells?

There are 550 individual volunteers, members of civic clubs and church groups who give over 1,000 hours in ringing this very special bell.

Additionally, The Salvation Army believes in helping those who seek assistance during the holiday season. If any of these individuals are capable of working, they are placed at kettles as paid seasonal employees. Retailers frequently offer these individuals a full time job in their companies because they have observed a dedicated and caring person at their particular kettle stand.

If you would like to be a holiday volunteer bell ringer, please click here.

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