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Sarasota News Leader November 29, 2013 Page 73 SARASOTA SALVATION ARMY TO HOLD KETTLE KICKOFF EVENT DEC. 5 The Salvation Army of Sarasota will hold its first ever Kettle Kickoff event on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mercedes Benz in Sarasota, sponsored by Mercedes Benz, Boar's Head Provisions Co. Inc., Grapevine Communications Advertising Agency and the Downtown Sarasota Alliance. With the theme, The Sound of Hope, sponsors, donors and volunteers of the organization are encouraged to support the Salvation Army's 22-day holiday fund drive, running from Nov. 29 through Dec. 24, a news release says. Funds collected during the drive are distributed throughout the community to benefit those in need. At The Sound of Hope event, the Salvation Army will be presented with a Smart Car design-wrapped as one of the organization's recognizable red kettles, and a "Sprinter" designed to resemble a sleigh, both courtesy of Mercedes Benz, the release adds. For six weeks, the Salvation Army will use the cars to promote its fundraising efforts throughout the area via social media. The Salvation Army is seeking volunteers to help with its annual holiday season campaign. Image from blog.salvationarmyusa.org/tag/ rock-the-red-kettle/ adds. Volunteers can sign up for a date and time convenient to their schedule and choose from four two-hour shifts that need to be filled daily, the release notes. "Local companies can sponsor kettles and provide volunteers to cover a full day of shifts at their site of choice." "The overall goal of The Sound of Hope event is to attract more volunteers and sponsors to help support the Salvation Army and its work to provide positive contributions" for the community, the release continues. Anyone registered to volunteer for a full day (four shifts) as a bell-ringer is invited to attend. "It's the generous support from volunteers that makes it possible for us to provide physical, financial, personal and spiritual help year after year," said Salvation Army Maj. Ethan Frizzell in the release. "Thanks to the additional push from our sponsors, we will be able to extend our reach even further to improve and enhance the community we serve." A familiar sight during the holiday season, the Salvation Army's customary red kettles and bell-ringing volunteers will be stationed outside 25 Sarasota-area shopping malls, discount stores and grocery stores, the release For more information about sponsorship opportunities or to volunteer to help with this holiday season's fundraising efforts, call 3648845, Ext. 222, or email SarasotaVolunteerInfo@ uss.salvationarmy.org.