The Oshkosh Salvation Army hosts its Tin Cup Luncheon as a way to kick off its Red Kettle campaign, October 19, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Oshkosh community is heating up for the holiday season.
The Oshkosh Salvation Army kicked off the 2023 Red Kettle Season Thursday during its Tin Cup Luncheon.
Four restaurants served up their best soups in a friendly-competition as a way to raise awareness for the Red Kettle campaign and thank volunteers.
Soups came from The Roxy, Friar Tuck’s, The Hangar Bar, and Grill and Mineshaft Oshkosh.
Commanding officer, Major James Mungai, says last year they had just 42% of their sites covered by bell ringers. The goal is to have 55% this year. Red kettles occupied by bell ringers and volunteers tend to raise more money than stand alone red kettles.
Major Mungai says the tin cups symbolize the increasing need in the community.
“It’s a way to say, hey, there are homeless people out there with tin cups, just to kind of say that we are helping those in need, those who are hopeless, those who are destitute, those who are hungry and with the funds raised through the kettles, we’re able to meet those needs,” he said.
And the need is greater now than it has ever been. Major Mungai says what the organization normally serves in two months for its food program, it now serves in one month.
“Our food pantry, astronomical, we can’t keep enough food on the shelves because people are just coming in droves and that has increased exponentially since the beginning of this year. So that’s another reason why this is so important, to get that awareness out,” he said.
Click here to find out ways to volunteer this holiday season.
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