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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The Salvation Army Graham Unit Kettle Coordinator Tracey Terasas poses with her family who will be helping her with the annual fundraising campaign this year that begins Thursday, Nov. 20. Shown are Tracey Terasas, Tony Terasas, Nathaniel Frias, Jeahlynne Frias and Paislee Lee.
The giving season is kicking off next week as The Salvation Army’s annual kettle fundraising campaign takes off in Graham.
The annual kettle campaign begins Thursday, Nov. 20 and continues through Tuesday, Dec. 23, starting first at Walmart and later at United Supermarkets.
The Walmart location opens on Nov. 20 followed by United Supermarkets on Nov. 28.
The organization is also looking to have three donation locations set up on the downtown square during the annual Christmas stroll Thursday, Dec. 4.
Tracey Terasas took over the position of kettle coordinator for The Salvation Army Graham Unit at the beginning of October.
This will be the third year Terasas has volunteered for the organization and taken a break from her role over the Remembering Wyatt Dale Water Safety Awareness organization providing free life jackets and swim lessons for children.
“I think it's an honor that they asked me to be a part, and I'm honored to be able to do that because it's just reaching the families in a completely different way,” Terasas said.
The Salvation Army provides emergency financial assistance with rent, utilities, prescriptions or groceries.
Last year, the Graham unit helped over 460 individuals, with $15,800 used for utility assistance, $4,000 used for rental and lodging assistance, $5,100 used for food vouchers and $1,100 used for gasoline vouchers.
“It's an opportunity to be able to reach out to families and to help families that are in need,” Terasas said. “When no one else is there, I want us to be there and to love on them and encourage them and give them hope. That's what I want to be able to do.”
Volunteers can sign up to be a bellringer anytime from the start of the campaign until it ends Dec. 23. Shifts for bellrings are longer than two hours. For more information about volunteering, contact Terasas at 940-456-0529.
“I'm hoping that we can get families to come out and bring their kids (to help volunteer),” Terasas said. “It's teaching your children how to serve the community by ringing a bell, and it's something that they can do together.”
Terasas said her family will be out helping to raise funding for the initiative and giving back to the community.
While The Salvation Army is a worldwide organization, 100% of the funds collected through the kettle campaign locally go directly back into Graham and Young County.
“I want people to realize that when they do see those kettles out there, that it really is for our community that they're helping,” Terasas said. “The people that are out there doing that are volunteering.”
