Red Kettle campaign goals announced for The Salvation Army units serving Kane, Kendall counties

Nov. 30, 2015 - The familiar sound of the ringing of the bell has begun and the dropping of coins in the red kettle signifies the beginning of the Christmas season for The Salvation Army worldwide.

Throughout Kane and Kendall counties, The Salvation Army corps, in the Fox Valley area comprised of Aurora, Elgin and St. Charles Tri-Cities units, has started manning kettles at various locations throughout their communities.

Community volunteers, comprised of individuals, service clubs, churches, businesses and families, volunteer their time and energy in "Doing the Most Good" by ringing a bell for the organization.

Lt. Rich Forney, corps officer for The Salvation Army of Aurora, states, "Volunteers are invaluable to our organization and without them we couldn't afford the expense of paying people to ring bells for us for over eight hours a day, six days a week for eight weeks during the Christmas season."

With a combined total of over a half a million dollars, The Salvation Army corps of the Fox Valley area is pleased to announce the following 2015 Christmas Red Kettle campaign goals:

• $250,000: Aurora Corps serving southern Kane and Kendall counties;

• $202,000: Elgin Corps serving northern Kane County;

• $200,000: St. Charles Tri-Cities Corps serving Geneva, Batavia, Campton Hills and Wayne.

The money raised at Christmas not only assists during the holiday season, but accounts for almost 75 percent of the organization's revenues for the entire budget year. Services provided by The Salvation Army to those in need include rent and utility assistance, food distribution, clothing and prescription assistance, extensive case management, youth afterschool programs, ESL classes, emergency disaster services, character building programs for children, and many other programs for individuals and families.

Lt. Mike Hanton, corps officer for The Salvation Army of Elgin, states, "The ability to serve more throughout the year hinges on the generosity of the residents of our community to give during this particular time of the year. We are grateful for their commitment to giving."

The Salvation Army is in need of volunteer bellringers in each community throughout the Christmas season. An easy online signup allows volunteers to pick the community they would like to ring in and the date/time they would like for their shifts. Register at www.registertoring.org or call the following corps: Aurora, (630) 897-7265; Elgin, (847) 741-2304; or St. Charles Tri-Cities, (630) 377-ARMY (2769).

About The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division and Fox Valley Corps

In 2015, The Salvation Army is celebrating its 150th worldwide anniversary and 130 years of service in Chicago and the Fox Valley area. As one of the largest direct providers of social services in the state of Illinois, The Salvation Army operates more than 20 corps community centers in the Metropolitan division, as well as other facilities in neighborhoods across the greater Chicago area and surrounding counties including the Fox Valley area, offering after-school programs, recreational activities and music education, as well as disaster relief, shelter, meals, child care, senior services and more.