Kehoe rings the first bell of the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign as shutdown increases need
Alison Patton
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Salvation Army’s red kettle campaign kicked off Friday in the Capitol rotunda, with Gov. Mike Kehoe ringing the first bell of the holiday season.
This year, the Salvation Army and its volunteers will collect donations starting Friday and running through Christmas Eve.
The Jefferson City Salvation Army has a goal to raise $410,000 to support the communities in need.
Major April Clarke said this was last year’s goal, but they fell short of meeting it. This year, the Salvation Army is hoping to reach its goal and stretch it.
“We’re sharing our current resources, not just with people who are most vulnerable, but also furloughed workers,” Clarke said. “That’s why our goal of $410,000 is so important, because the need is greater right now.”
Friday marks the 38th day of the federal government shutdown — now the longest ever. Federal workers haven’t received a paycheck since the shutdown, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding is still in limbo, forcing more families to turn to food pantries.
The Trump administration on Friday filed an emergency appeal of a judge’s ruling that the USDA must immediately pay out SNAP benefits for November.
Clarke said the Salvation Army is serving twice as many people now as before the shutdown. The nonprofit was serving about 50 meals a day, and now it’s up to 100.
Kehoe allocated millions of dollars to crucial food programs, such as food banks and a senior food program, to support families as they go without SNAP payments.
At the red kettle campaign Friday, Kehoe said the answer to the rising food insecurity is opening the government.
“A simple solution would be to open the government back up, vote on a continuing resolution that they voted on with other administrations before,” Kehoe said. “There’s no hunky dory business here, let’s just get this done.”
Kehoe has also encouraged Missourians to donate to charities helping the hungry during the shutdown.
“I always say when things happen in Missouri, we see the best Missourians,” Kehoe said Friday. “Neighbors helping neighbors.”