The Salvation Army Red Kettles Raise Over $99 Million to Support Those in Need Year-Round
The nonprofit thanks donors and partners for their generosity during a shorter holiday giving season
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (March 15, 2025) For the 134th year, The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettles served as a symbol of hope, generosity, and community during the 2024 holiday season. The donations collected during the annual Red Kettle Campaign, which kicks off on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas, provide critical support for individuals and families in need year-round.
In the 28-day Christmas season, $99,474,124 was raised through thousands of Red Kettles throughout the country. All of the money stays in the community in which it was raised. For the first time since the pandemic, The Salvation Army also experienced an increase of 4.3 percent in digital donations.
In 2023, Red Kettles raised an average of $2.7 million per day so with five fewer days in the 2024 holiday season, the country’s largest and longest-running Christmas fundraiser could have experienced a double-digit deficit in donations. Recognizing the challenges, The Salvation Army made giving easily accessible through in-person and digital methods so that resources would be available to support a continuously high demand for their services.
The Salvation Army is deeply grateful for the support of its national Red Kettle Partners—Walmart, JCPenney, Kroger Family of Stores, Sam’s Club, Big Lots, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Hobby Lobby, Mardel, Food Lion, Dillard’s, Boscov’s, Redner’s Markets, Macerich Shopping Centers, and Albertsons Companies—along with its hundreds of dedicated local partners.
“Our partners' unwavering commitment to helping their neighbors has a significant impact on The Salvation Army’s ability to serve over 27 million people throughout the year,” said The Salvation Army’s National Commander, Commissioner Merle Heatwole.
For the fifth year, The National Commander rang the bell and challenged Salvation Army officers, employees, elected officials, and supporters across the country to raise more money than him during a four-hour shift. This friendly competition has become an annual tradition, inspiring communities nationwide to step up in support of their local Salvation Army and help restore hope to those in need.
In addition, across the country, local communities embraced the Red Kettle in unique and inspiring ways to raise awareness and critical funds. From celebrity partners and professional athletes to police and fire departments, high school volunteer groups and families, people from all walks of life came together during the holiday season to support their neighbors in need.
Generous individuals anonymously donated rare items like gold coins, supporters carried on family legacies of giving, and volunteers rose from challenging circumstances to ring bells for The Salvation Army. These grassroots efforts, combined with the dedication of thousands of bell ringers and donors, played a vital role in the success of the 2024 Red Kettle Campaign and The Salvation’s Army ability to help more than 27 million people annually.
“The generosity we witnessed this holiday season reaffirms that our nation remains committed to uplifting those in need,” said Commissioner Heatwole. “Together, we will continue to restore hope for millions of people who rely on The Salvation Army.”
Visit SalvationArmyUSA.org to learn more about ways to support throughout the year.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 27 million people in America overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and meeting human needs in His name without discrimination in nearly every ZIP code. By providing food, shelter, eviction prevention assistance, emergency disaster relief, rehabilitation, after-school and summer youth programs, spiritual enrichment, and more, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 6,400 centers of operation around the country. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.
Media Contact: Lindsey Logan
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