First Lady Sandra Deal To Start Ring In Salvation Army Kettle Bell Season

Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal, the honorary chairwoman of the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, will launch the charity's annual Christmas season fundraising efforts by ringing the first bell and making the first donation during a 10 a.m. ceremony on Nov. 13 in Downtown at 25 Park Place, in front of the old SunTrust building.

The Salvation Army Metro Atlanta Red Kettle Campaign will run through Dec. 24 and the organization hopes to to raise $2.1 million that will be used toward providing holiday assistance through meals, toys, clothing and other social services.

Some 300 Red Kettles and thousands of bell ringers will be dispatched across metro Atlanta, a Salvation Army tradition that goes back 120 years.

"Ringing bells is not only a tradition but also a necessity, without Red Kettles, bell ringers and your donations, we would not be able to help those that are in desperate need,” said Maj. Todd Hawks, the Salvation Army's metro Atlanta area commander.

“Today more than ever and we are challenged to do more. explains Hawks. Every day we see the increase of the homeless and the hungry and every day we are committed to not only give a hand out but a hand up.”