The Kewanee Salvation Army has hit the ground running, lining up sponsors and signing up bell ringers for the upcoming, annual “Red Kettle campaign.” The familiar kettles will soon be stationed around town at the doors of local businesses.
The national campaign kicks off on Nov. 17 and goes until Christmas Eve. Locally, there are 1096 hours of ringing that need to be filled, said Service Exention Director Eddie Toliver. Of those hours, almost 300 have already been reserved. But that still leaves roughly another 800 hours of time and that will require some individuals or groups to step up.
Campaign sponsors have already come aboard, and there are two levels of sponsorship. Candy Cane sponsors have donated $200 and include J&D Tree Service, Golnick-Schuenean Funeral Home, Jo Jo’s, Johnson Chiropractic, Calvert Tax and Bookkeeping, and Galva Family Denistry.
Christmas Star Sponsors donated $400 to the annual campaign and the list, so far, are Rux Funeral Home, CSB, PNB, Happy Joes, SBT, The Downtown Eatery and Bakery, Ed Morse Chevy GMC, Great Dane and Mel Foster.
Signing up to ring the bells has been made easier. The Salvation Army added a registration site that allows people to go online and choose their date and time. Volunteers can register at www.registertoring.com.
***Photos provided by The Kewanee Salvation Army
