An anonymous donor dropped a gold coin into the red kettles at the 127 Shoppes in Geneva.

With only 10 days left of The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, and with a goal of $200,000, The Salvation Army St. Charles Tri-City Corps found the first gold coin of the season in the red kettle manned by the Geneva Masonic Lodge #139.

“It’s always a wonderful surprise to open the red kettles and to find a through the generosity of an anonymous donor such a gift. It is truly a blessing,” said Lt. Betsy Clark, corps officer for The Salvation Army St. Charles Tri-City Corps Joe K. Anderson Community Center.

This is the final week of the 2016 bell-ringing season, and the Tri-City Corps is still $71,000 from their goal of $200,000.

“These are the crucial days when volunteer bell-ringers are greatly needed to help man our red kettles,” Clark said. “And generous donors are needed to help us reach our goal.”

Volunteer Bell-Ringers Needed

The money raised locally in the Red Kettle Campaign provides resources for Tri-City Salvation Army families not only during the holiday season, but year-round, through emergency assistance and community center programming. Volunteers are crucial to the success of the Red Kettle Campaign and The Salvation Army Tri-City Corps is asking the community for their help. Individuals, businesses, service clubs, churches and families are invited to register for bell-ringing shifts either online at salar.my/TriCityRTR.

For more information, contact Deanna Wieden, The Salvation Army Tri-City Volunteer Coordinator at Deanna_wieden@usc.salvationarmy.org or call her at 630-377-ARMY (2769).

Families in Need of Assistance

Families in need of assistance can contact Belen Hood, of The Salvation Army Community and Family Services, at 630-377-2769. For more information, visit www.satricity.org.

SOURCE: The Salvation Army St. Charles Tri-City Corps