The spirit of giving is being summoned in Arizona as the Salvation Army faces significant shortfalls in their Red Kettle Campaigns across the state. With a statewide goal set at $2.3 million, the Salvation Army Southwest Division looks to the public to help surmount a $775,000 gap before their campaign concludes on December 24. "The people of Arizona are very generous," Scott Johnson, the division's public relations director, expressed his positivity in an interview with FOX 10 Phoenix.
Contributing to this effort is Carl Shelton, a retiree who, for the last four years, has volunteered as a bell ringer outside a Fry’s Food Store in Surprise, Arizona. A Santa Claus in full regalia, Shelton sits in a wheelchair bedecked with Christmas lights and plays festive music, creating an atmosphere of yuletide cheer as he collects donations. "It makes you warm knowing that this is all going to help somebody that's in need," Shelton told FOX 10 Phoenix, regarding the impact of the generosity he witnesses.
Meanwhile, in Tucson, the Salvation Army Tucson and Southern Arizona division is also calling for community support as its campaign hovers at 55 percent of its $322,000 goal. Major Andres Espinoza, the City Coordinator for The Salvation Army Tucson, underscored the campaign's significance in a statement obtained by Tucson.com. "The Red Kettle Campaign is so important. We sustain services for the whole year during 2026 with funds from this campaign. It helps us provide 365 days of year-round services for less fortunate people and families," said Espinoza. The money raised supports a multitude of programs, including community meals, support for the homeless during extreme temperatures, and after-school care.
