KEWANEE WEATHER

The Salvation Army of Kewanee sets $36K holiday goal


By The Kewanee Voice    November 14, 2025
The Red Kettles and bell ringers will soon make their appearance at a store near you. The money raised in the campaign stays local to help families in need. [Salvation Army of Kewanee Facebook photo]

The Salvation Army of Kewanee has set an ambitious goal and is calling on the community to help achieve it. This year’s aim is to raise $36,000 to provide local families with food, shelter and hope, according to a recent news release.

“With more individuals and families facing hardship this holiday season, The Salvation Army of Kewanee is stepping up to meet the rising demand for support,” the release said.

Last year, The Salvation Army of Kewanee provided 182 nights of emergency shelter, paid $12,313 for utilities assistance and $15,947 for housing assistance and offered life-changing support through programs including Angel Tree, Adopt-a-Family Holiday Program and gifts-in-kind for free clothing, food and other items.

Eddie Toliver, director of the Kewanee organization, said the generosity of the public plays a vital role in bringing hope, comfort and joy to those in need.

“The holidays can be incredibly tough for those already struggling to make ends meet,” said Toliver. “But we’ve also seen how compassionate our community can be. Every donation, large or small, helps one of our neighbors move one step closer to stability and peace. Together, we’re making a difference.”

The Red Kettle Campaign directly supports programs such as Angel Tree, where gifts from generous donors bring holiday joy to children who might otherwise go without. Funds raised during the campaign also support essential year-round services, including help with rent, utilities, and housing. The Salvation Army of Kewanee also continues to offer Pathway of Hope and Emergency Assistance, ensuring those in need receive both immediate relief and long-term support.

Ways to give and get involved this holiday season:

  • Donate cash, coins, or checks at any Red Kettle.
  • Give a one-time or monthly sustaining gift at Give.SalvationArmyUSA.org.
  • Make a digital donation at the Red Kettle via Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo.
  • New this year: To make giving even easier, we’ve added a TipTap device at one of our kettle stands. This allows donors to give quickly and securely with a simple tap of their debit or credit card—no cash needed.
  • Contribute cryptocurrency donations, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other supported tokens, through the secure Engiven platform at SalvationArmyUSA.org.
  • Volunteer to ring the bell at a Red Kettle by registering at RegisterToRing.com.
  • Support the Angel Tree Program by providing gifts for children. Angel Tree gifts can be dropped off at The Salvation Army, 119 N. Tremont, Monday–Saturday during store hours.

To learn more about how you can support the Kewanee community during the holidays, visit here.

For individuals or families in need of assistance, please reach out to us at 309-853-4192 for information on available services.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army annually helps more than 28 million people in America overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and meeting human needs in His name without discrimination in nearly every ZIP code.

By providing food, shelter, eviction prevention assistance, emergency disaster relief, rehabilitation, after-school and summer youth programs, spiritual enrichment and more, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at more than 7,400 centers of operation around the country. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.