In December of 1981, Captain Joseph McFee of The Salvation Army in San Francisco, California was stumped. He wanted to provide a Christmas dinner for 1,000 poor people, but had no way to pay for it.
Then, an idea. He thought back to when he was a sailor in Liverpool, England, where on the docks of the city's waterfront he remembered seeing a large pot into which charitable donations could be thrown.
The next day, McFee secured permission to place a brass urn at the Oakland ferry landing. Beside the pot, he placed a sign that read, "Keep the Pot Boiling." Soon, he had all the money he needed to fund the Christmas dinner. Two years later, McFee's fundraising idea had expanded to 30 kettle locations on the West Coast. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Each year, red kettles raise funds necessary to help the local community. The bright red kettles that you see during the holidays are essential to meet the needs of area families. There are several ways in which you can help.