The Salvation Army-Fox Valley Corps reaches 60 percent of goal

This is the final week of the Red Kettle Campaign for The Salvation Army and the four corps serving the Fox Valley area of McHenry, Kane and Kendall counties.

Due to the shorter bellringing season, all four corps are in shortfall coming into this final week with only 60 percent of their red kettle campaign goals completed.

"When you think about it, 40 percent of their goals need to be raised in six days," states Beverly Peterson, Fox Valley Regional Development Director. "That means $80,000 to $100,000 depending on their red kettle campaign goal."

The iconic bells will ring for the last time this year on Saturday, Dec. 23, one day short of the typical holiday season of Christmas Eve on Dec. 24.

This coincides with the national policy of no bellringing on Sundays as is typical each bellringing season since its inception in 1891 when the first red kettle campaign began in San Francisco.

The Salvation Army of the Fox Valley is asking for the public's help.

First, consider ringing a bell at one of the various locations throughout the Fox Valley area. Second, consider giving generously in the red kettles.

This week, The Salvation Army corps located in Crystal Lake/McHenry County, Elgin, Tri-Cities, and Aurora are distributing toys and food to 400-900 families.

Donations through the red kettles and donations of gifts in kind from donors help support our food and toy distribution.

"We are grateful for the support of our volunteers and donors who give so generously", states Peterson. Also the money raised in the Red Kettle Campaign supports between 50 and 60 percent of the corps' yearly budgets in providing emergency assistance, after-school programs, music lessons, disaster services, and other social and youth programming.

Volunteers are needed to ring bells at 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 after-school programs, recreational activities and music education, as well as disaster relief, shelter, meals, child care, senior services and more.