Help Salvation Army with bell ringing; 60% of slots still open
ST. CHARLES, IL (December 3, 2015) - As the familiar sound of the ringing bell is heard throughout the Fox Valley area, not every kettle location has a bellringer to help with the fundraising efforts of The Salvation Army of the St. Charles Tri-City Corps.
According to Lt. Betsy Clark, Corps Officer, "Only 40 percent of our hours are currently filled with 18 days remaining in the Christmas season. We need to fill 4,132 more hours with volunteers to have a successful Red Kettle campaign."
The goal this year for the Red Kettle campaign is $140,000, and, as of today, volunteers have raised $37,567 or 26 percent of the goal. Lt. Clark states, "What we raise at Christmas not only helps with toys and food for families in need during the holiday season, but also throughout the year in our social service department."
As applications are being taken for Christmas assistance, the staff of The Salvation Army predict that it will exceed last year's totals for assistance provided to families in need in the Tri-City area. Besides St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia, The Salvation Army Tri-City Corps also provides services to Campton Hills and Wayne.
In 2014, The Salvation Army Tri-City Corps Joe K. Anderson Community Center provided 1,149 families with Christmas assistance, including 3,036 individuals, 2,334 children with Christmas assistance; including 2,212 number of toys distributed and 2,012 number of coats given, and countless books, games, clothes, mittens and hats.
Bellringing days for The Salvation Army are Monday-Saturday until Dec. 24. According to Deanna Wieden, volunteer coordinator, the best days for increased giving are Friday and Saturday of each weekend, but openings for Monday-Thursday are available as well. Individuals, churches, businesses, service clubs and families are encouraged to signup online at www.registertoring.com or to call Deanna at (630) 377-2769, ext. 201.
About The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division and St. Charles Tri-City 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 St. Charles Tri-City Corps, serving Geneva, Batavia, Campton Hills and Wayne, offering after-school programs, recreational activities and music education, as well as disaster relief, shelter, meals, child care, senior services and more.