30 Days of Giving, Day 6: The Salvation Army

This is the sixth in a 30-day series of ways Patch community members can give back this holiday season. We hope you'll take part in this 30 Days of Giving, and take the spirit beyond the holidays, because there truly is "need" all year long.

Collect money virtually

Dropping change in the red kettles outside the grocery store is a traditional part of the holiday season. While the tradition of bell-ringing volunteers still continues, there is now another way to donate to the Salvation Army — giving to an online red kettle.

In order to widen its approach and better utilize social media, the Salvation Army has created the online red kettle system, giving individuals, groups and companies the ability to collect money virtually in their own kettles from friends, family, colleagues and more.

Interested parties can visit www.onlineredkettle.org and create a user name and password. The website also requests your zip code, ensuring that all money raised is donated to individuals and organizations in your community, or a community nearby.

To drum up attention for their kettles, participants can promote their kettle in any way they like — via email, Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms. Participants are not expected to donate money themselves, and though they are asked to set a fundraising goal, they are not required to meet any goals. Donations are accepted in the online red kettles through Jan. 31.

Individuals can also give back to the Salvation Army by donating online at www.salvationarmyusa.org.

Not a fan of virtual kettles? Buy a paper one

While grabbing a pizza through Dec. 24 you can donate to the Salvation Army too. Buddy’s Pizza will now be selling paper kettles for $1 each, with proceeds benefiting The Salvation Army’s mission. Customers who buy the kettles put their name on the paper and display them on the walls of the pizza joint.

Donate used goods

In addition to collecting money, the Salvation Army also collects used clothing and household goods all year long. Goods can be dropped-off at any local Salvation Army stores.

In addition, the will be aiding efforts in the coming weeks by hosting its own donation drive. Those interested in donating can drop off household goods and clothing to the Salvation Army trucks parked in the Zoo’s parking lot beneath the water tower. Drop-off dates are from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 3, 4, 10 and 11.

For more information on how to donate, visit www.salarmythrift.com or call 866-448-3866. Nearby Salvation Army stores, and drop-off locations, include those in:

• Royal Oak, at and
• Southfield, at 26235 Greenfield Rd. and 16130 Northland Dr.
• Auburn Hills, at 605 S. Opdyke Rd.
• , at 823 Auburn Rd.
• West Bloomfield, at 32320 Orchard Lake Rd.
• Pontiac, at 469 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and 1185 N. Perry St.
• , at 27500 Shiawassee Rd.

Do you have an idea for the 30 Days of Giving? Send your idea to Editor Laura Houser at Art.Aisner@patch.com.

Previous days

• Day 1:
• Day 2:
• Day 3:
• Day 4:
• Day 5: