By Jake Fogal
As Christmas approaches, the Salvation Army is looking for donations towards their Red Kittle Campaign. The Red Kittle Campaign lends a hand towards raising money for those who need it most in communities nationwide. They provide toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and other social service programs year-round.
Angie Bubon, Development Director for the Bloomington Salvation Army, spoke with W-J-B-C’s Scott Miller.
“We are partnering with Toys-For-Tots starting today and tomorrow to do distribution for toys and food. [We] have close to 500 families registered, a lot of families were helping a lot of kids,” Bubon said.
“That’s all the work that we are able to do because of our Christmas Campaign and our fundraising efforts. It’s such an exciting time of year for those programs so starting today we will be giving out all those toys and also food.”
The Red Kittle campaign is the oldest charitable fundraiser of its kind in the United States. Although the Red Kittle campaign takes place in the winter, programs in the summer see support from donations made during the cold season.
“This money goes towards programs like our Safe Harbor Shelter, our food pantry, our emergency assistance program, our youth programming like summer camps. It is weird to think about summer camp but when you are dropping money in the kettles that is what your supporting-programs like that,” Bubon said.
Any donations or inquires can be made by calling (309) 829-9476 or by visiting SABloomington.org.
Jake Fogal can be reach at [email protected].
