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LT GOVERNOR JAMES Aiona and Governor Linda Lingle participate in the kettle kick-off in Hawaii. |
Hawaiian and Pacific Islands
The two highest-ranking public officials in the state—Governor Linda Lingle and Lieutenant Governor James “Duke” Aiona—helped kick off the kettle drive in the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division. Held during lunch hour at the busiest business district in downtown Honolulu, the event featured The Salvation Army Island Brass ensemble and Hawaiian music and hula from a local senior group. “We’re so blessed to have our state’s leaders’ strong support each year,” said Divisional Commander Major Ralph Hood. The kick-off also helped promote the “Take a Kettle to Lunch” campaign which invites employees in Honolulu’s commercial district to “adopt” a kettle for two hours at lunchtime. Started last year, the campaign succeeded in enlisting many new bell ringers from Hawaii’s corporate sector.
Intermountain
For the first time in over a decade, The Salvation Army participated in Denver’s annual Parade of Lights, an event that draws several hundred thousand spectators to downtown Denver. This year the Denver Downtown Partnership provided a horse-drawn carriage for the Army; when the carriage passed the grandstands the crowd was encouraged to donate. Riding in the carriage were Majors Alfred and Stella Parker, administrators of the Army’s Denver Social Services, with daughter Anna; Ron Cattany, Metro Denver advisory board chair; Olivia Armijo-Killough, Metro Denver advisory board Çhristmas chair; and Alphonso Hawkins, advisory board member.
Golden State
This year a kettle stood at the Vallejo Ferry, just miles from where the first kettle stood in San Francisco in 1891. Vallejo Corps Officer Captain Thomas Stambaugh had the idea: “When I saw all the people standing in line to board the ferry, and people taking walks along the waterfront, I knew this would not only be a good fundraiser but an outreach to let people know that The Salvation Army is in their community helping others.” The city approved the plan and issued the permits and the ferry boat captains enjoyed the Army’s presence. “As a fundraiser it’s a good location; as an outreach to our community it’s effective; as a part of history it’s a ringing tradition,” Stambaugh said.
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