Kettling at Starbucks

Every year during the month of December, Starbucks in Singapore set aside one day to raise funds specifically for The Salvation Army. In Singapore the company has been doing this for at least the last ten years. On a chosen Thursday from 5.00 to 7.00 p.m all customers are given free drinks. They are requested to put their donation into what is called the 'kettle' hence the appeal is named 'kettling.'

This custom originated in America. In December 1891 San Francisco, California was paralysed with a dock workers strike. A Salvation Army officer Captain Joseph McFee wanted to provide a Christmas dinner for the poor but lacked the funds. He obtained permission from the authorities and placed an empty kettle on a kettle stand. He appealed to the public for funds. People dropped their donations into the kettle. This noble approach was an instant success. Soon other Salvation Army churches or centres picked up the idea and eventually spread across the United States and to other parts of the world.

The bell was added a few years later when a Salvation Army volunteer was tired of being ignored by passersby. She went inside the department store where the kettle was located and bought a small bell. The idea worked and bells became a permanent feature of the kettles. Later The Salvation Army Christmas bell was immortalised in the popular Christmas song, "Silver bells."

My wife and I were at Starbucks, Harbour Front yesterday 8th December to do kettling. We arrived about 15 minutes before time, so had a little rest and spent our time chatting with the staff. We were warmly welcomed by the branch manager a 26-year old named Jack and the representative from Starbuck Headquarters Ms. Sabaria Suri-Morrison.

At exactly 5.00 p.m. Ms. Sabaria rang the bell and she kept ringing for the full two hours walking up and down inviting people to join the queue. She was very enthusiastic and full of energy. Later one of the staff came with a bigger bell. She must have found our bell too small and not loud enough.

We stood at the entrance and as the people entered they put in their donations. The queue grew longer and longer and we had to request the people to wait as they could only cater for only a certain number of people at a time. Extra workers were recruited for the day and a number of ex-employees of Starbucks volunteered their services.

We thank God for health and strength and the privilege of serving Him by serving in the Army and people.

Salvationists feel that the Christmas kettle not only provides as means to raise funds but also as a reminder to the public that the true spirit of Christmas is found in remembering others.

I remember an old chorus we used to sing at Sunday School to the tune of Jingle Bells.

"J-O-Y, J-O-Y this must surely mean
Jesus first, yourself last, others in between."