Thanks to Kettle Drive volunteers
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Editor,
We would like to recognize and thank the churches, organizations and individuals in the Polson community who stood in front of Super One Foods and Walmart and rang the bell during the holiday season.
From the Friday after Thanksgiving to the day before Christmas, volunteers braved the cold and sometimes inclement weather to ring the bell for the Salvation Army Kettle Drive.
Proceeds from the Kettle Drive went to: the Helping Hands Fund voucher program; Safe Harbor for lodging; and to the Polson and Ronan police departments, who write vouchers when the Helping Hands Fund office is closed. Ninety percent of the funds raised will stay in Lake County to help provide food, shelter, gas, utilities, medications, bus tickets, lodging, meals and clothing to the needy. In addition, individuals in need are also helped with more long-term resources.
Helping Hands Fund has seen a marked increase since Christmas in the number of individuals requesting help paying for propane, fuel oil, utilities and rent. The office has seen many utility shut-off notices and dealt with several homeless situations, as well as evictions.
The 2010 Kettle Drive produced a total of $6,284.76, an increase of 34 percent over the total raised in 2009, the first year volunteers rang the bell. Polson Community Church collected $914.96 and are the winners of the traveling trophy.
Thank you to all those who so generously contributed their time to ring the bell and to the Polson Community for your generosity in helping to fill the Kettles.
God bless all of you,
Carol Lockwood
Bell Ringer Coordinator
Linda Greenwood
Helping Hands Fund Administrator
Polson
