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CENTRAL ILLINOIS, Ill. (WCIA) — In the final days of bell-ringing, the Salvation Army is asking Champaign County residents to help them meet their goal.
The Salvation Army Red Kettle’s bell ringing season finishes up on Christmas Eve, and the organization is hoping they will raise enough money to meet the needs of the community. At this time, the Salvation Army said that donations are still “greatly needed” to meet the increasing need for social services in Central Illinois.
The money donated to the Red Kettle campaign funds resources like groceries, emergency rental and utility assistance, Veterans services, homeless outreach services, emergency disaster response, and more for people in the community in need.
The Salvation Army said that there are a couple of ways to help before Christmas Eve.
- You can donate at Red Kettles locations with cash, coins, and checks. They’ll also accept donations made through Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo.
- Make an online donation or signing up for a monthly gift of $25 at Give.SalvationArmyUSA.org. All online donations will stay local to the donor’s zip code.
- Sign up to ring the bells at your local Red Kettle. Shifts last for two-hours and can have a significant impact in the final days of fundraising. Red Kettles with volunteers can raise between $80-$100 more in a two-hour shift than a stand-alone kettle. To sign up for a time at an open Red Kettle location, visit RegisterToRing.com.
In Champaign County, Red Kettles can be found at Sam’s Club, Schnuck’s, Walmart, Blain’s Farm & Fleet, and other businesses in the area.