Always a fun head-to-head battle heading into the holiday season, Hopkinsville Rotary and Kiwanis collided for lunch efforts Tuesday afternoon in the War Memorial building — with one pivotal, joint fundraiser in mind.
It’s time for the “Kettle-saurus Kickoff” of kettle bells, and the annual all-in effort behind the signature red buckets with The Salvation Army.
For the third-straight year, hosts of WHVO’s “Hoptown This Morning” Kim Allen and Eddie Owen are donning Tyrannosaurus Rex costumes when they ring from 2-4 PM, December 6 at Hopkinsville’s Hobby Lobby.
One needn’t be alarmed, for this is intentional.
Three years ago, Allen made a $30 Amazon “Prime Day” purchase of the viral costume live on air, and on a day where Hopkinsville’s Salvation Army Lt. Lindsey Galabeas was coming to chat.
Owen said he wanted to join in on the fun, and the belly-ringing ballyhoo began.
Allen noted their efforts are simply to encourage Rotarians, Kiwanians — and anyone, really — to volunteer for bell-ringing service.
The Salvation Army’s goals for this year: $100,000 and 700 volunteer hours — both of which feel achievable. Nearly 600 bell-ringing hours have already booked on RegistryToRing.com, and the two philanthropic groups alone combined to raise more than $17,000 in 2021, and more than $22,000 in 2022.
During Tuesday’s lunch, Rotary immediately chipped in $376, and Kiwanis added another $144.
Galabeas noted that Hopkinsville’s annual needs remain great. In 2022, more than 350 families were assisted with winter Angel Tree donations, more than 46,000 meals were served, more than 43,000 bags of groceries were provided, more than 8,500 pieces of clothing distributed, and more than 8,400 nights of shelter and lodging were given in the 30-bed facility.
She added that nearly 300 people stayed in homes of their own because of assistance from the Salvation Army, and nearly 30 people were placed in homes directly from the street.
A ribbon cutting for a new life navigational hub is coming sometime in January-February 2024, and Galabeas assured none of this was possible without generosity — especially in the closing months.
Means Avenue Baptist Church Rev. Buddy Slaughter called Salvation Army’s mission an “important one.” One without prejudice or concern of self.
As such, he referenced Acts 10:38 of the King James Bible.
If signing up for bell-ringing is too difficult, Hopkinsville’s Salvation Army can be reached by phone at (270) 886-9105, or by personal visit to 304 East 7th Street.
