Ashland Kroc Center is ready for Red Kettle campaign

Samantha Whidden, Ashland Times-Gazette
·2 min read

The Salvation Army’s Ashland Kroc Center is kicking off its Red Kettle campaign and celebrating the 2023 holiday season Saturday.

The Ashland community will see the iconic red kettles rolling out during the center's special event. The Red Kettles were donated by  Buehler’s, Miller’s-Hawkins, Walmart and Fin, Feather & Fur Outfitters.

"It’s an exciting time of year for us, but one that’s incredibly important for us in terms of donations,” said Dan Lawson, PhD, director of community relations and development.

The Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Campaign
The Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Campaign

Lawson said in 2022, The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center served more than 2,600 social service clients per month, provided 28,080 participants with groceries, and had 356 youth participants in the after-school care and summer day camp programs.

Along with the roll out of all the red kettles, the Kroc Center will start its Iceless Ice-Skating Festival at 1 p.m. It will be located in the west parking lot, 527 E. Liberty St., in between the main building and annex building, which houses the food pantry. Weather permitting, the ice rink will be open until 5 p.m.

Following Saturday's holiday kickoff, the iceless ice rink will be open Monday-Friday, 5-7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays 1-5 p.m. throughDec. 30.

Available onsite, tickets are $12 for non-members of the Kroc Center. Members will receive a discounted rate of $10. The admission price also includes ice skate rental. However, while the rink does not rely on the cold temperatures and snow, it will not operate while it's raining.

The Salvation Army Kroc Center's Major Annalise Francis speaks after winning the hospitality and recreation services award at the 2023 Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce annual member awards dinner Thursday, March 9, 2023 at Ashland University's John C. Myers Convocation Center. TOM E. PUSKAR/ASHLAND TIMES-GAZETTE
The Salvation Army Kroc Center's Major Annalise Francis speaks after winning the hospitality and recreation services award at the 2023 Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce annual member awards dinner Thursday, March 9, 2023 at Ashland University's John C. Myers Convocation Center. TOM E. PUSKAR/ASHLAND TIMES-GAZETTE

“We are thrilled to bring ice-skating to our community so that families can possibly try something new, have a fun way to be active together, and get into the holiday spirit,” said Major Billy Francis. He and Majors Annalise thought up the idea for the iceless ice rink.

“So many of my favorite holiday memories involved ice skating with family and friends,” explains Major Annalise. “With the closest ice rink to Ashland being over 30 minutes away, and others being even further, I was intrigued by the possibility of bringing an iceless ice rink here. Then, when I spoke with Awesome Entertainment & Party Rentals in Columbus and found out that they were willing to collaborate with us as a non-profit organization, I was ecstatic. What a blessing this will be for our community!”

Along with Awesome Entertainment & Party Rentals, Ashland-based Chandler Systems, Inc. is supporting the social services at the Kroc Center by serving as a Gold Sponsor of the Ice-Skating Festival.

The Kroc Center will be host two events/services.

Thanksgiving dinner is free and open to the Ashland County community on Monday, 6-6:45 p.m., at the Ashland Kroc Center. Sp[ace is limited to the first 300. And the Angel Tree Christmas Assistance Program applications are being accepted through noon Monday, Dec. 4.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Kroc Center is ready for Red Kettle campaign