Salvation Army opens up holiday season

Thousands of Salvation Army bell-ringers fan out across the country to ring bells and solicit donations to the iconic Red Kettles from holiday shoppers. This year donations can also be made at kiosks located throughout the metro.

“Our Christmas campaign is our biggest and most visible fundraiser”, Lt. Grant Holloway, Brainerd Salvation Army administrator, said in a release.

The Salvation Army’s goal is to raise $90,000 and the kettle program will run until Christmas Eve. “It also extends into the new year through our community and family services, like our food bank”.

Members of the Salvation Army, as well as local officials kicked off the Red Kettle Campaign at Budwey’s Market in North Tonawanda on October 6.

The Salvation Army will help more than 1,200 families in the Bloomington-Normal area with food for Christmas this year, according to the Pantagraph. About 82 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in more than 5,000 communities nationwide.

Anyone who would like to staff a kettle can do so by going to londonchristmaskettles.ca and register as a volunteer.