Bender Lumber Challenges Others to Give to Salvation Army Red Kettles with $19,650 Match

Gift will double donations made to Red Kettles across Southern Indiana on November 26 & 27

BLOOMINGTON, IN (November 22, 2021) – The Salvation Army is excited to announce that for the second year in a row Bloomington-based Bender Lumber Co. has stepped up to offer a series of matching gifts that could double every dollar dropped into Red Kettles in eight Southern Indiana counties on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. On November 26 and 27 Bender Lumber will match dollar for dollar cash donations in each community. Bender Lumber has upped the challenge in 2021, which means that the eight matches could add up to almost $20,000 in additional funds to support local Salvation Army operations.

Bender Lumber, which was founded in Bloomington in 1931, has stores in Bloomington, Martinsville, Bedford, Paoli, Madison, Columbus, Linton, and Washington. The 53 Red Kettles in these and other nearby communities will display special signs letting shoppers know that their donations could be doubled thanks to Bender Lumber's generosity. Each county has its own match amount to help secure extra funds during this critical fundraising period for The Salvation Army.

"At Bender Lumber, we make giving back to our communities a priority," said Ben Watters, President of Bender Lumber. "The Salvation Army aligns well with our corporate core values, which makes them a wonderful partner during this special time of year. Those core values include respect to God, family, and country, as well as commitment, integrity, and service to our community."

Several Red Kettle partners have agreed to host bell ringers earlier than ever, which means that holiday shoppers will have plenty of opportunities to donate. November 20 was the first day bell ringing at Walmart and Sam's Club stores, while Red Kettles will make their first appearances at Kroger stores on Black Friday. For shoppers staying home this Christmas, Walmart is also helping out by offering online shoppers on Walmart.com the opportunity to round up their orders to the nearest dollar and donate the extra amount to The Salvation Army.

Shoppers looking for a Red Kettle during the match period will also be able to find bell ringers at local malls, IGA stores, Hobby Lobby, Kroger, Big Lots, Circle K, Rural King, Save-A-Lot, and many other retail locations. Anyone interested in volunteering to ring a bell this holiday season is invited to visit RegisterToRing.com and find a location, date, and time that works for their schedule.

"This has been a year full of challenges for Hoosiers across our state, so it lifts my heart to see companies like Bender Lumber step up to help their neighbors in need," said Major Marc Johnson, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army Indiana Division. "I hope that Bender Lumber’s tremendous act of generosity will inspire people to stop by a kettle and give a little more than they might otherwise, especially knowing that their donation will go twice as far. We all see the suffering that is happening in communities across Indiana, and every dollar that goes into a red kettle is put to work to alleviate that suffering and bring joy back to people's lives."

Every donation given to The Salvation Army through the annual Red Kettle Campaign provides help and hope to those in need, and all gifts stay right here in Indiana. Visit SalvationArmyIndiana.org to learn more about how you can help The Salvation Army ensure that Hope Marches On in 2022.

Media requests for specific participating counties should be addressed to the following:

• Bartholomew County: Capt. Amy Tompkins, amy.tompkins@usc.salvationarmy.org
• Jefferson County: Lt. Justin Hartley, justin.hartley@usc.salvationarmy.org
• Monroe County: Capt. Gordon Hoag, gordon.hoag@usc.salvationarmy.org
• Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, Morgan, and Orange counties: Ms. Billie Kay, billie.kay@usc.salvationarmy.org