Salvation Army red kettles returning outside local stores for the holiday season

Beginning on November 16, the Salvation Army bells will ring outside Rouses and other select grocery stores stores across the coast, with a full launch planned for Walmart and other retailers on Black Friday.

This holiday season the Salvation Army will be raising funds for those in need at 30 different locations across South Mississippi, with hopes of raising a grand total of $277,000 through their red kettle drive.

As always, in person donations are welcome but you if would rather donate online, virtual red kettles are available through the Salvation Army website.

Funds raised will help towards assisting those in need in various ways this holiday season.

“First and foremost, we’ll help people with Christmas, we’ll provide food baskets for, probably, I think it’s about 500-600 families as well as the angel tree gifts they’ll be getting. Then after that we help people financially with utility assistance, rental assistance but the biggest need that we’ve seen increasing this year has been food,” said Salvation Army Mississippi Gulf Coast Commander, Major Jerry Friday.

The Salvation Army is always in need of volunteers and if you would like to donate your time this holiday season, you can head over to the Salvation Army Mississippi Coast website by clicking here.