THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MAHONEY, BRENNAN, BROWNLEE, BURNS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, CREIGHTON, DAVIS, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, ELLIS, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FLECK, GABLER, GEIST, GEORGE, GODSHALL, GRELL, HARHAI, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, KAVULICH, KIRKLAND, KNOWLES, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MALONEY, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, CULVER, SONNEY, STABACK, STEVENSON, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, WHITE, MANN, TALLMAN, M. K. KELLER AND GOODMAN, NOVEMBER 17, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, NOVEMBER 17, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing December 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 of need; and

WHEREAS, The initial startup of the Red Kettle Campaign was a

success and provided disadvantaged individuals of San Fransisco,

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, The Salvation Army provides more than 4.5 million

individuals with assistance during the Thanksgiving and

Christmas holidays in the United States; 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, 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

December as "Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Month" in

Pennsylvania.