DECATUR — The Salvation Army officially began its Christmas campaign on Wednesday morning, with a row of the festive red kettles stationed outside of the agency.
The theme for the 2021 season is Hope Marches On.
The Golden K Kiwanis members accepted a red kettle competition, between fans of the Green Bay Packers versus the Chicago Bears and the St. Louis Cardinals versus the Chicago Cubs, during its Wednesday meeting, which included the kickoff of the Salvation Army Christmas campaign.
According to Kyle Karsten, Salvation Army director of development, the majority of the social service’s funds are collected during the holiday season. “So that we can be in the position to help our community, not just this Christmas, but all year long,” he said.
This year’s chairs are local business owners Dale and Rita Colee. “The Red Kettle program at Christmas, which is such a phenomenal Christmas tradition, you hear those every time you come in and out of so many of our community stores,” Rita Colee said. “We wanted to be a part of that.”
Salvation Army Director of Development Kyle Karsten, left, and Salvation Army Corp Officer Kenesa Debela talk after the kickoff event. This year’s Christmas campaign goal is $600,000.
This year’s Christmas campaign goal of $600,000 will hopefully be met through donations, events, mail appeals and the red kettles.
The Salvation Army’s signature red kettles will be located outside various stores throughout the Decatur area. Beginning Friday, Nov. 12, bell ringers will be situated in front of Hobby Lobby at the Hickory Point Mall, Blaine’s Farm and Fleet on First Drive, and Rural King on Mount Zion Road. On Nov. 26, more red kettles will be found at both Walmart stores in Decatur, Sam’s Club, and all three Kroger stores.
Spots are open for individuals, groups and families to ring bells alongside the red kettles. Virtual bell ringing is another option through online donations.
A row of the famous red kettles line the front entrance to the Decatur Salvation Army.
The community will have opportunities to celebrate the holiday season through Salvation Army festivities, including the Julie McClarey-Smith and Friends Piano Concert on Sunday, Nov. 14, and the Red Kettle Dinner Gala on Dec. 9, designed to kick off the “Gurneys, Guns, & Hoses” first responder bell ringing competition on Dec. 10 and 11.
The funds raised from the holiday fundraisers help support many opportunities in the community, including the men’s shelter, Pathway of Hope for women and families, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army Angel Tree and other needs.
“Those are the things that are possible because of your support,” Karsten said.
Like many other communities, Macon County felt the needs grow during the pandemic. “We know there continues to be a real need in this community, especially during these challenging times of COVID and the pandemic and what it brought to us,” Dale Colee said.
Erica Colee, standing, and Colby Young visit with Santa Claus after the Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign kickoff.
“It’s important because the need is greater,” said Salvation Army Corp Officer Kenesa Debela. “We’re here to help them, support them, and give them self-sufficiency.”
According to Debela, the local donations stay in the community. “It goes to support the people in Decatur,” he said.
One of the Salvation Army’s famous red kettles is ready for donations.
One of the Salvation Army goals is to expand their temporary shelter to a 24-hour homeless shelter as well as provide programs, such as employability training and work ethic training. “The more the community comes together and works together, pushing in the same direction, we can make a maximum impact and be more efficient,” Debela said. “It’s a great partnership.”
As the chairpersons, the Colees have experienced and seen support from the community. “So many times you volunteer for things, and you think you are helping someone else, getting involved with the Salvation Army really comes back to you. It’s a gift for you.”
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Decatur Christmas decorations of the past
Bob and Nellie Blair
1988: The Bob and Nellie Blair residence sparkles at 522 Ridge Ave. on the city’s east side.
Santa Claus
1988: Preston Nash, a park district worker, helps carry a 25-foot Santa Claus statue to its perch atop the tortoise and wallaby house at Scovill Children’s Zoo Wednesday. The Santa will be part of a Christmastime at the Zoo feature scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly at the zoo Dec. 17-23 and 26-30. The zoo grounds will be lighted by 43,000 Christmas tree lights for the event.
Plugging Santa in
1988: Electricity has done more to brighten Santa’s image than anything. All over town, electrified Christmas displays are beginning to light up homes and businesses. Here, a worker puts up Santa’s face on the Atlas Travel Building, 239 S. Main St.
Window display
1980: Christmas window displays in downtown Decatur include those at Millikin National Bank.
Artificial trees
1971: There are a multitude of artificial trees of every type on the Decatur market – and many of them are very realistic.
Wired for the season
1991: David Wallace, 32, waves to passing cars from the driveway to his home at 1460 W. Tait Ave. In addition to decorating his home, Wallace decided to deck himself out in strings of Christmas lights and greet passing motorists. He’s plugged in to a 100-foot extension cord. Why does he stand out there every night from 6:30 to 9:30 until three days after Christmas? “I do it for the kids and the holiday spirit,” said Wallace.
Season’s Greetings
1990: Ken Handley started working on this year’s decorations in early November.
8,750 lights
1978: The blaze of light coming from northwest of Decatur appears only for a few short weeks every year. Many motorists don’t need to think twice about where the light comes from. Each holiday season for the last six years William and Vada Wond of Bearsdale Road on route 1 add more Christmas lights to decorate the outside of their home. This year they put up 8,750 lights, compared to 2,100 in 1972. Wond said each season motorists stop to gawk at the display and snap photographs.
Religious category
1986: Ralph Martin, 13 North Court Drive, won first place in the religious category.
Darrell Beck
1986: Darrell Beck’s display at 5 Forest Knolls drew much attention.
Non-religious category
1986: Bill Williams of 396 Timber Drive won in the non-religious cateogry.
Mixture of themes
1988: A mixture of Christmas themes can be seen at the home of Mike Camfield, 1757 Moundford Court.
Santa Claus
1988: Santa Claus and his reindeer prance across the lawn of Wayne Stivers’ home at 1870 Winnetka Ave.
Pointsof light
1991: Framed in his garage doorway, Wayne Stivers of Decatur unravels the first string of more than 5,000 Christmas lights that will decorate his house and yard this season. Stivers says the process will take about two weeks. This year’s decorations will include a Nativity scene.
Disney Land
1976: Seasme Street, Peanuts and other characters form this children’s paradise in a circular area near the Mullins’ house.
Holiday Glow
1990: Decatur resident Harry Johnston was outside during last week’s snowfall to add more lights to his Blue Spruce tree.
Christmas decorations
1990: Christmas decorations, including this star, were taken down Friday from Central Park in Decatur. Landmark Mall worker Larry Kellogg removes a star from atop a waiting area.
It’s over
1991: Larry Kellogg, a Landmark Mall employee, removes Christmas wreaths from utlity posts Thursday.
Shusters
1992: Bren Shuster, 26, was going to great heights Monday, braving chill winds on his extension ladder. Shuster was replacing faded bulbs on a cross that hands all year on the family farm, seven miles east of Moweaqua. Shuster said his brother Eric, 18, a punter for Central A&M High School, has handled the lighting chores in recent years but couldn’t put in much time this year because of high school football playoffs. Lighting the buildings and trees is a family tradition for the Shusters.
Tree trimming time
1985: Larry McNamara did his part to advance the holiday spirit Sunday by stringing lights on a blue spruce at the corner of Fenway and Wildwood drives. Sunny skies and a Decatur-area high temperature of 50 degrees made his task easier.
Christmas in the air
1983: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in downtown Decatur and elsewhere throughout Central Illinois. Larry Kellog, an employee of the downtown Landmark Mall, places a tree on a lamppost. Over 125 individual decorations have been placed on posts throughout the downtown area. Alos, lights were recently strung in Central Park and are on each night.
Christmas Cat
1981: Santa Claus sits at the controls of a new motor grader parked in front of the Caterpillar Tractor Co. plant at 27th St. and Pershing Road. The machine outlined by about 500 tiny lights, has a backdrop of more than 400 lights strung from teh flagpole in the shape of a Christmas tree.
Santa heads for landing
1982: Ralph Stiles appears to be in the way of a precision landing by Santa Claus and his reindeer. But he wasn’t in any danger; he actually was just installing Christmas decorations on the roof of his home at 2389 E. Locust St.
Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR
