PRINTER'S NO. 4616
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1093
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY SCHLEGEL CULVER, ROWE, FEE, BURNS, PICKETT,
BOBACK, MILLARD, HARKINS, FREEMAN, YOUNGBLOOD, BROOKS, RYAN,
MENTZER, HELM, LONGIETTI, MALONEY, BROWN, HICKERNELL,
MACKENZIE, NEILSON, T. DAVIS, ISAACSON AND HOHENSTEIN,
NOVEMBER 18, 2020
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
NOVEMBER 18, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of December 2020 as "Salvation Army Red
Kettle Campaign Month."
WHEREAS, Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee established the
Red Kettle Campaign in 1891; and
WHEREAS, Captain McFee saw the need to supply a free
Christmas dinner to underprivileged individuals in San
Francisco, California; and
WHEREAS, In order to compensate the expenses of the free
dinner, Captain McFee was inspired by his experiences as a
sailor in Liverpool, England, where the "Simpson's Pot" was
placed at Stage Landing to provide a location to donate to
unfortunate individuals; and
WHEREAS, Captain McFee followed that tradition by placing a
red kettle and sign that stated "Keep the Pot Boiling" at the
Oakland Ferry Landing with the hopes that individuals would
contribute to those in need; and
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WHEREAS, The initial startup of the Red Kettle Campaign was a
success and provided disadvantaged individuals of San Francisco,
California, with Captain McFee's inspired Christmas dinner; and
WHEREAS, In 1987, Boston, Massachusetts, also began to
implement the kettle program in the community, and approximately
150,000 Christmas dinners were provided across the entire nation
to deprived individuals; and
WHEREAS, In 1901, an immense dinner was served at Madison
Square Garden, New York, with contributions provided during the
kettle campaign, and this tradition continued for many years
following; and
WHEREAS, All donations placed into the kettles are used
locally to provide assistance to those in need and enhance the
organization's programs; and
WHEREAS, Korea, Japan, Chile and additional European
countries also recognize and have implemented the kettle
campaign to raise much needed money; and
WHEREAS, The Salvation Army provides individuals with the
chance to participate through an online Red Kettle Program; and
WHEREAS, The online program offers individual kettles, team
kettles or company kettles to which individuals may donate; and
WHEREAS, The Salvation Army recognizes the Red Kettle as an
"integral part of the Christmas scene," and it is one of the
most commonly recognized symbols of the organization; and
WHEREAS, Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, since March, Salvation
Army USA has provided more than 100 million meals, 1.5 million
nights of safe shelter, plus emotional and spiritual support to
more than 800,000 people across the United States; and
WHEREAS, The Salvation Army expects those numbers to grow,
bracing for a 155% increase in the need for their services,
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including putting food on the table, paying bills, providing
shelter and helping place gifts under the tree, heading into the
holiday season; and
WHEREAS, This year, the new campaign is called "Rescue
Christmas," and this campaign kicked off on September 14, 2020;
and
WHEREAS, In 2019, the Salvation Army raised $126 million with
its Red Kettle campaign and it expects to only bring in half
that much this year; and
WHEREAS, In response to the decline of foot traffic at
stores, the organization shifted focus to online donations and
launched the "Rescue Christmas" donation page; and
WHEREAS, Local donations will continue to stay in the
communities from which those funds are given with $.82 of each
dollar going directly to helping those in need; and
WHEREAS, A great number of individuals seek to volunteer at
the Salvation Army to assure that people in need are provided
with eminent assistance; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of individuals rely on the donations and
programs provided by the Salvation Army each day; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of December 2020 as "Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign
Month" in Pennsylvania.
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