TULSA – A thief took off with a red Salvation Army kettle filled with money, the tripod and sign from the 81st and Lewis Walmart on Saturday, getting away with as much as $800, said Captain Ken Chapman, Area Commander of The Salvation Army Tulsa Metro Command.
“A kettle at a location like this will average at least $800 in a day,” said Captain Chapman. “We may also be looking at repair costs for the equipment and replacing the kettle. This thief isn’t robbing The Salvation Army. He is robbing the people we serve – the most vulnerable in our community.”
The kettle was padlocked to its 6 ½-foot tripod that also holds a large sign and a “DipJar” – a device that allows people to donate with their credit cards. All the equipment but the kettle was recovered. Chapman noted that no information is retained in the DipJar making it useless to any thief.
Chapman added that the loss is additionally distressing because kettle donations are running 20 percent behind.
“I will admit; we are concerned. We only have 12 days left to catch up on donations,” Chapman said stating that December 23 is the last day kettles will be out in the Tulsa area.”
The Salvation Army kicked off its 2017 Red Kettle Campaign on Nov. 10 with a $700,000 goal.
“Each dollar, each dime, each nickel placed in a red kettle translates into services in our community for the homeless, hungry and downtrodden. The kettle donations don’t just help at Christmas but all year long.”
Chapman reminded the community that donations may also be made online at www.SalArmyTulsa.org[SalArmyTulsa.org], by calling 918-587-7801. He added The Salvation Army is appreciative of the partnership with Walmart which allows The Salvation Army to ring bells at all of their stores.
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