Salvation Army Starts Annual Kettle Campaign
BOARDMAN, Ohio – For the second year in a row, Maj. Paul Moore of the Salvation Army of the Mahoning Valley was at Mr. Darby’s Antique Emporium ringing the bell as shoppers donated coins and cash into the red kettle to kick off the organization’s annual Kettle Drive.
The vintage decor store has 100 vendors filling the 25,000-square-foot building. Each year, the vendors at Mr. Darby’s come together and host their Christmas Open House with the mission to give back to the community. In addition, Chick-fil-A and Bruno Brothers Pizza helped by donating food for shoppers while the many vendors added homemade appetizers and desserts.
Customers lined up in front of the store with canned foods to be given and the store filled can after can of nonperishable foods.
“Families try to make Christmas special for their children and sometimes a basket of food makes the holidays bright,” Moore said in a statement.
More than 300 people strolled the aisles while listening to Christmas music as they shopped. Many made new friends and others ran into friends and acquaintances. Robert and Karen Neapolitan, co-owners, feel fortunate that the success of Mr. Darby’s has been able to help many people in the Mahoning Valley.
“Our relationship with the Salvation Army is not only a blessing for so many people that need help in the Valley, but a blessing for all of us that can give a little extra to others,” said Mr. Darby’s owner Robert Neapolitan.
In order to sell more tickets to benefit the Salvation Army, the drawing of the winning tickets for the raffle will be postponed for two weeks. The store will continue to ring the bell at their kettle for the holiday season with the hope that customers will drop in a little extra change for their organization.
Pictured: Major Moore, of the Salvation Army, thanks Ida Donald, Janet Dennis and Alma Neapolitan for their contribution at the start of the Armies 2019 Christmas Kettle drive at Mr. Darby’s Emporium in Boardman.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
