Warm winter greetings!

When I set sail on my new adventure as Director of The Salvation Army Port Clinton Service Center the week before the Red Kettle Kick Off Breakfast in November, more than once I thought, “what have I gotten myself into?”

Over the next eight weeks, I realized that what I had gotten into was not a new position; it was a gift I didn’t even know I wanted.

While attempting to absorb as much about a Red Kettle Campaign and a colossal toy distribution as possible, I learned that The Salvation Army Port Clinton Service Center is able to do such amazing work because, to echo the late Chris Galvin, people say “yes.”

Will you be a Kettle Coordinator? YES! Will you sort thousands of toys? YES! Will you put a toy collection box at your business? YES! Will you stand watch over a red kettle? YES! Will you donate? YES! Will you help us to distribute toys to families? YES!

You see, The Salvation Army Port Clinton Service Center is so much more than a social service agency. It is family of countless individuals, organizations, and businesses that aspire to rise as a community by lifting others.

I am humbled to be at the helm of such a vital organization and am excited beyond words to report the successes of The Salvation Army Port Clinton Service Center’s 2022 Holiday Season Programs.

This holiday season, YOU surpassed our Red Kettle Campaign goal of $88,400 raising an astounding $103,000! This was made possible by 535 volunteer bell ringers who stood watch over our Red Kettles for 1,739 hours, and 13 kettle coordinators who spent endless hours making calls, checking on our ringers, and setting up and tearing down eight locations every day for 40 days.

I am grateful to each and every person who helped prepare for the season, burned the midnight oil to keep this ship sailing smoothly for seven weeks, took a turn at the Salvation Army Red Kettle, and kept me informed, grounded, caffeinated, and loved during the busiest and most rewarding holiday season of my life. Your commitment to our community is unmatched.

I am also humbly grateful to our Red Kettle hosts across the county – Community Market in Oak Harbor, Friendship Food Stores in Oak Harbor and Port Clinton, Kroger in Port Clinton, Miller’s New Market in Genoa and Wal-Mart in Port Clinton’s well as special partners First National Bank, for their unwavering support throughout the season!

As for our annual Holiday Toy Distribution, our volunteers gave Santa and his elves a run for their money. More than 70 community volunteers donated 515 hours of their time to provide a wonderful Christmas for 678 children in 278 families across the county!

We had 75 collection sites from Genoa to Marblehead, and every town and village in between, provided well over 3,000 toys which were distributed in December along with 47 bicycles, and around 800 coats, scarves, hats, and gloves to help keep our community warm.

While the holiday season is our most visible time of the year, at The Salvation Army Port Clinton Service Center the good work continues year ‘round. In January alone, your support has empowered 12 families to stay in their homes, keeping 38 people safe and out of crisis in the coldest month of the year.

Being your connection to those neighbors in need is truly a gift, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your support, your partnership, and your trust, and look forward to working with you throughout the coming year.

With gratitude,
Director Kami Sayre, Salvation Army
Port Clinton Service Center