Salvation Army kicks off seasonal fundraiser with friendly Camas-Washougal football competition

The Camas-Washougal Salvation Army (CWSA) is making it easier than ever for local residents to participate in its annual fundraising campaign this holiday season.

“People want to give back, and they want to do it in a way that is meaningful to them,” CWSA corps officer and envoy Samantha Wheeler said. “If people play an instrument, they want to give back and play their instrument while doing it. If they ride a motorcycle, they want to give back and do it while riding. If they play football, they want to give back and do it while playing football. We’re just trying to find different ways for people to connect with their community and get back at the same time. We want to be as creative as possible.”

The CWSA launched the 2024 campaign with its second annual Red Kettle Kickoff event, held Nov. 25 at Camas High School’s Carden Field. The event featured two teams — football players and staff members from Camas and Washougal high schools, as well as Camas City Councilman Tim Hein and Washougal Mayor David Stuebe — competing against each other to pass or kick the most footballs into a red kettle, with a trophy going to the winning squad.

The Camas team eked out a 17-13 victory, avenging its loss during the inaugural 2023 event at Fishback Stadium in Washougal.

“It went really well,” Wheeler said. “I would say the MVP was Tim Hein. He scored the most points out of any player. He was a really good sport, but everybody was a great sport. It’s just a lot of fun, and it’s a great way to bring awareness to our campaign and kick off the season in a fun way. I just love how our community shows up in support of the Salvation Army — we had a good turnout. I think it was a better turnout (than last year).”

The CWSA launched the event in 2023 to raise awareness for its annual Red Kettle campaign, which provides funds for social services such as food, shelter, disaster assistance and addiction recovery programs, as well as its need for volunteer bell-ringers.

The CWSA raised $75,000 in 2023 and hopes to generate at least $80,000 this winter, according to CWSA corps assistant and finance director Jessica Wheeler.

“The challenge is (that) every year we fight a harder battle to even maintain the status quo, let alone increase our results,” Jessica Wheeler said. “The rising cost of minimum wage for our paid workers is a huge challenge. This year Washington state minimum wage is $16.28 an hour. Although we love that we can give much-needed jobs at this critical time of year, we have to push for volunteer bell ringers as much as we can to keep expenses as low as possible.”

The CWSA is using social media to engage community members in creative ways, including a recurring game called “Where’s Tonette?” starring volunteer Tonette Sweet.

“Every day that she’s out (ringing a bell), she usually stands at two or three different locations, and we’ll post clues every day on social media where she’s going to be,” Samantha Wheeler said. “Your challenge is to go and find her, and if you make a donation and take a selfie with her, then she has a gift for you and a sticker that says, ‘I found Tonette.’ It’s kind of playing off the ‘Where’s Waldo?’ thing. That’s been a lot of fun, and people are really having a good time. And now she’s dressing up in crazy costumes.”

For the last two weeks, the nonprofit organization has been holding a sock drive to collect hosiery for the people who stay at its Washougal shelter.

“Socks are the most needed but least donated article of clothing for those experiencing homelessness,” Samantha Wheeler said. “We give out socks daily, but it’s almost daily that we give out socks to every single person experiencing homelessness. It’s not just one pair of socks a day, but it’s one pair of socks per homeless person every day. It’s something that they (need), especially if it’s raining. They just can’t keep dry feet, then they get problems with their feet, and then they end up in the hospital, and it’s a real issue. Socks are really, really important. It’s a medical issue. Warm, dry socks are really one of the most important elements of their winter attire.”

After the city of Washougal’s Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting event on Thursday, Dec. 5, CWSA leaders will take all of the socks from a donation bin at City Hall and take them back to the CWSA facility, where they will continue to accept donations for the next several months.

“We’re collecting them because the next three to four months are the wet, cold season, and we’re giving out multiple pairs of socks every single day,” Samantha Wheeler said. “We’re hoping to get a stockpile of them. There’s going to be a need between now and March and April. … It will be an ongoing battle to keep peoples’ feet warm and dry.”

The CWSA is launching a new annual event, a “motorcycle toy run,” to be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Community members can participate by purchasing a toy at Walmart, 430 S.E. 192nd Ave., Vancouver, and donating it to the cause; and/or paying a $10 fee to take the toys, via motorcycle, to the CWSA facility, where they will be distributed to children in need.

“It’s basically a motorcycle parade,” Samantha Wheeler said. “Some people might just want to pack a few toys in their backpack and transport them. … Some people might just want to participate in the parade and ride their motorcycle with a Santa suit on. It’s just a fun way to bring awareness and celebrate the season, raising funds to buy toys for our kids that we’re adopting and buying toys for this holiday season.”

The CWSA also is joining other Salvation Army Units across the Northwest Division in a “matching challenge.”

Panther RV in Washougal will match every $20 donation made to a red kettle in Camas or Washougal on Saturday, Dec. 14.

“So the more that people donate that day, the more that their donations will be amplified in their community,” Jessica Wheeler said.

To sign up as a “bell-ringer,” visit registertoring.com.

For more information about the CWSA and its events, call 360-835-3171 or visit washougal.salvationarmy.org.

“We just want people to recognize that giving back to your community can be a fun thing,” Samantha Wheeler said. “It can make your Christmas even richer by teaching your family the value of helping others and realizing that there’s somebody out there who has it worse off than you are. Even if things are bad in our lives, there’s always somebody who needs help more than we do.”