Words and Images by Jenny Lynn Davis
He stood in the doorway with a power bill in his hand.
Sixty-seven dollars.
For many people, that amount might mean a lunch date, a tank of gas, or a new sweater. For this elderly man in Walker County, living on approximately $700 a month, it was the difference between keeping the lights on and buying groceries. When the Salvation Army of Walker County team told him they would cover the bill, he paused, eyes wide, and asked, “You’re really going to pay it?”
When they assured him they would, he took a deep breath of relief and said, “Oh my gosh… I can go get food now.”
Moments later, as team members walked out of the home, they saw him making his way toward Walmart with his walker, headed to buy groceries he no longer had to choose between.
It is a small story in terms of dollars, but one that captures the heart of the Salvation Army’s work in Walker County: meeting urgent needs, restoring dignity, and stepping into the gap for neighbors who might otherwise fall through it.
As the holiday season approaches, the Salvation Army of Walker County is preparing for its busiest time of the year. During this period from Thanksgiving to the end of the year, the Salvation Army’s iconic red kettles return to storefronts across Jasper.
This year’s kettle season will be especially challenging. Because the Salvation Army of Walker County is a United Way agency, it cannot begin fundraising until United Way’s current fundraising campaign ends, which typically occurs on Thanksgiving Day. With Thanksgiving falling later this year, the Salvation Army is already losing a week.
“Our goal is about $90,000, but with such a short kettle season, $75,000 is more realistic,” says Cindy Smith, Director of The Salvation Army of Walker County. “Three weeks is all we get,” Smith adds. “And we need every bit of it.”
The funds raised through the Red Kettle Campaign remain entirely local, supporting the Salvation Army’s programs that positively impact hundreds of lives each month, including the food bank, homeless outreach, utility assistance, transportation vouchers, and the Step Up program for individuals transitioning out of jail, prison, or rehabilitation. The Angel Tree is also funded in part by kettle donations, as well as grocery assistance for seniors and families struggling to afford basic necessities.
“These kettles support everything we do,” says longtime volunteer coordinator Linda Ingram. “They help everyone, no matter who you are.”
Even outside the holiday season, food insecurity remains one of the most pressing needs. What began as a small, once-a-week food bank has grown into a daily service because the need simply demanded it. Food distribution takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Salvation Army’s David J. Rowland Social Services Center – 207 20th Street East, Jasper, AL 35501.
“Since November 1, we’ve served around 1,200 families, which comes out to at least 2,400 individuals,” Smith explains. “During the SNAP benefits suspension, people were lined up from the store to the road multiple times, waiting for a bag of groceries.”
Most of the food distributed is purchased, not donated, making Red Kettle funding essential to maintaining a steady supply on the shelves.
The Salvation Army also supports Backyard Blessings, helping pack food bags for students to take home over weekends and holidays. “This week alone, we’ll pack for 500 city school kids,” Smith says.
The staff sees the full spectrum of needs in Walker County, from families struggling to make ends meet to seniors choosing between medication, utilities, and food.
“It could be any of us at any time,” Smith adds. “Compassion is vital, and so is offering hope, respect, and dignity.”
While financial support is essential, volunteer support is equally urgent, especially during the early part of the kettle season.
“We struggle to fill Black Friday and that whole weekend, including the day of the Iron Bowl,” says Ingram.
The goal is to staff every kettle location Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Regular volunteers and local businesses have already reached out, but many shifts remain open.
Community members can volunteer for as little as an hour, and groups can take whole days. Ingram coordinates all scheduling and can be reached by call or text message at (205) 522-3675.
The Salvation Army is quick to acknowledge the local organizations that help power its mission. From the Walker Area Community Foundation and United Way to school athletic departments, churches, clubs, and civic groups, the partnership network is expansive and deeply rooted.
“Whenever we have a need, someone steps up. We couldn’t do any of this without the community,” Smith says.
Smith, who joined the Salvation Army team in 2018, has watched the organization’s reach expand rapidly. Programs have grown, services have strengthened, and more people are being helped than ever before.
“We hope to keep growing, keep serving, and keep giving people hope,” she says. “We want to be here for them, especially when times get harder.”
With the 2025 Red Kettle season soon underway, the organization is trusting the people of Walker County to once again meet the moment.
“The journey of the dollar matters,” Smith says. “That quarter someone drops in the kettle? It helps pay a light bill, buy a bag of groceries, or provide a child with weekend meals. It may look small, but it changes lives.” WL
