The Salvation Army raises $131,000 on Colonial Cafe Match Day

In an effort to support The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, Colonial Cafe offered a match of donations up to $30,000 throughout the Fox Valley area during the seventh annual Colonial Cafe Match Day Dec. 9.

Four Salvation Army units participated throughout McHenry, Kane and Kendall counties and raised over $131,000 in a single day throughout the Fox Valley area.

Donations came in the form of two gold coins and a silver coin in the kettles in McHenry County and the Tri-City Corps received one gold coin.

Lt. Betsy Clark, corps officer at The Salvation Army Tri-City Corps and coordinator of the event, states, "The generosity of donors and the hard work of volunteers made the difference in being able to make this day successful. We are greatly appreciative of all who participated."

Lt. Clark further points out while the day was successful, and the $30,000 match donation from Colonial Cafe will be divided between the four units according to the prorated funds raised, donations are still needed through Dec. 23 to reach the Red Kettle Campaign goals in each community.

This year, the local units face a shortfall due to a shorter bellringing season and not being able to ring on Dec. 24 since it is a Sunday.

With only days left in the bellringing season, the Fox Valley corps has yet to raise over an average of 50 percent of the following goals:

• $200,000 - Tri-City Corps (salarmychicago.org/stcharles/);

• $200,000 - Elgin Corps (www.salarmyelgin.org);

• $200,000 - Crystal Lake/McHenry County Corps (www.salarmycl.org);

•$250,000 - Aurora Corps (www.salarmyaurora.org).

Volunteers are needed to ring bells at the kettle sites throughout the Fox Valley through Saturday, Dec. 23.

Individuals and groups can signup online at www.registertoring.com or by calling the following offices for assistance: St. Charles (serving St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Campton Hills and Wayne), (630) 377-ARMY (2769); Elgin (serving northern Kane County), (847) 741-2304; Aurora (serving southern Kane and Kendall counties), (630) 897-7265; and Crystal Lake (serving McHenry County), (815) 455-ARMY (2769).

In 2015, The Salvation Army celebrated 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, including the Fox Valley area, offering community, social, youth and spiritual programming.