Seasonal question: Where are your donations going?

It’s the first day of December, and that means holiday season has truly begun — and with that comes a call donations.

NewsChannel 21 chatted with the Salvation Army and Newport Avenue Market in Bend on Friday o find out what they’re doing to make a difference.

The Salvation Army bell ringers are back for the holiday season.

They’re collecting donations in their red kettles. It’s their biggest fundraiser of the year — but for the bell ringers, including Andrew Smith, it’s not just about the money.

“I have people come up here to me and say, ‘Thank you,'” Smith said. “It’s very emotional, because they’ve received help and they got to receive not just financial needs met, but they got to receive love in a time when they didn’t have it. So that’s what the Salvation Army’s about, so that’s what’s really cool.”

And all of the money donated in Central Oregon stays in Central Oregon.

“Our region is all Central Oregon, so La Pine, Bend Prineville Madras — we’ve even got a kettle in Alfalfa, which is pretty cool,” Smith said. “And it just goes right back into the community, so if anyone needs help, Salvation Army is going to help them the best as we know how.”

Money raised during the Salvation Army’s red kettle campaign goes toward feeding hungry community members, helping families during the holidays, providing shelter for homeless and other assistance programs.

Newport Avenue Market in Bend is also in the midst of a fundraiser.

On Friday, the store kicked off its Food for February fundraiser. Lauren Johnson, one of the store’s leaders, said the money will help feed hungry community members all year long.

“Because February is the hungriest month, people tend to remember in November and December to give generously,” Johnson said. “So we are able to stretch those dollars throughout the whole year and provide the vast amount of food that Family Kitchen serves.”

The store is collecting donations at the cash register from now until the end of the month.