Salvation Army Kettle drive a success
courtesy photo
Chriss Sopke, pastor of New Life Christian Church in Polson, hands off the Bell Ringing Trophy to Pastor Russ Barber of Polson Community Church.
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News from the Helping Hands Fund
LAKE COUNTY — From the Friday after Thanksgiving to the day before Christmas, volunteers braved the cold and sometimes inclement weather, standing in the entryways of Ronan Harvest Foods, Walmart, Pablo Family Foods and Super 1 Foods to ring the bell for the Salvation Army Kettle Drive.
Proceeds from the Kettle Drive go directly to the Helping Hands Fund voucher program, Safe Harbor for lodging, the Polson Police Department, who write vouchers when the HHF office is closed, and the Salvation Army Summer Camp for low-income kids. Ninety percent of the funds raised stay in Lake County to help provide food, shelter, gas, utilities, medications, transportation, lodging and meals to the needy. In addition, individuals are also helped with more long-term resources.
The drive this year proved to be a real community effort with area businesses, community organizations, non-profits and churches participating. The 2015 Kettle Drive produced a total of $17,194 to make it the most successful bell-ringing season yet.
The coveted “Bell Trophy” is awarded this year to Polson Community Church for raising $1,958. Honorable Mention goes to St. Andrews Episcopal Church for contributing the most volunteer hours and raising $ 1,401, and the United Methodist Church for the most money raised in one day. It should also be noted that together the Kiwanis and Polson High School Key Club collected $1,321. In Ronan and Pablo, St Paul’s Lutheran Church volunteers raised $1,022. Safe Harbor and Faith Lutheran Church also collected substantial amounts of money.
Thank you to all those who so generously contributed their time to ringing the bell and to the Polson/Pablo/Ronan communities for your generosity in helping to fill those kettles.
