It’s a Christmas Icon that is hard to miss as you go shopping for Christmas gifts for family and friends.
In 1891, Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee was inspired to action after witnessing several hungry people in California. He resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner for those affected by poverty. To fund this project, he positioned a red pot with a sign reading, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” Donations deposited into the pot helped to feed hundreds that year.
Gradually the idea spread to the East Coast and eventually throughout the world. Currently The Salvation Army assists more than four-and-a-half million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods. In 2014 almost 3.3 million people of all ages volunteered to assist with ringing the Red Kettle bell.
But you don’t have to wait until you see one of these red kettles in public. There is now a way to donate money online. Simply click on the red bucket to be magically transported to a support page to help the needy and feed the hungry.
“Because it proves that you don’t need much to change the entire world for the better. You can start with the most ordinary ingredients. You can start with the world you’ve got.”
― Catherine Ryan Hyde, Pay It Forward
A Tattoo On His Palm 
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