Salvation Army launches Red Kettle campaign

Posted on November 16, 2016
Red Kettle Launch
This year’s goal is $240,000. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle campaign is raising its goal this year.

The 2016 goal is $240,000, up $10,000 from 2015. Captain Paul James said between the kettles and the mail-in fundraiser, the Salvation Army hopes to bring in $490,000 by Dec. 24.

“This is about a little over a third of our goal for the whole year,” said James. “The biggest fundraising that we do happens during these two months.”

The campaign officially launched Tuesday afternoon at J.C. Penny inside Eastland Mall. The Salvation Army has kettles at a total of 23 locations this year.

“Some of the things the money helps is through, obviously the most well known is the Safe Harbor shelter. We have 60 beds for men and women,” said James. “And then during this season, now that it’s getting colder, we have our warming center open as well.”

Information on volunteering can be found at ringbells.org.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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