By Greg Halbleib
BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Corps of the Salvation Army has kicked off its annual Red Kettle Campaign with a goal considerably more ambitious than the one set last year.
The goal announced at a kick-off breakfast this morning is $515,000, up from the 2016 goal of less than $500,000 but under the $529,000 collected last year under co-chairmen State Rep. Dan Brady and WJBC’s Scott Laughlin.
Bob and Julie Dobski are this year’s campaign chairmen. The former owners of the local McDonald’s restaurants are known for their philanthropic efforts.
The Salvation Army’s Angie Bubon said the familiar sound of the bells next to the collection kettles has already begun.
“We’ll have bell ringers out all day until 8 p.m., all at our regular locations,” Bubon said. “The only locations we start a little bit later are WalMarts and Sam’s Club–we’ll start after Thanksgiving–but other than that, we’ll be out where we’re typically ringing.”
Bubon says the familiar red kettles will be at the usual storefronts in Bloomington-Normal, and she has options to place kettles at other businesses that might be interested.
“We do have what we call our counter kettles. They just sit on your counter next to the register or wherever and can collect change that way. That’s another way to get involved if a kettle at your entrance won’t work.”
The funds are used for the Salvation Army’s shelter as well as for a variety of projects to help needy residents.
To take a bell-ringing shift at a local red kettle, sign up at ringbells.org.
Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].
