By Staff Reporter

Many volunteers for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign spent hours outside ringing the bells and collecting loose change and other donations at Carlinville area businesses.

Bell ringers were located at Dollar General, Carl’s IGA, Walmart, Boente Shell, U.S. Bank, Bank and Trust and Carlinville National Bank.

Dale Kasten, who serves as the chairman for this year’s local Red Kettle effort, also serves on the Good Samaritan’s Ministries board. He appreciated the local businesses allowing the Salvation Army to place kettles at their businesses during the holiday season. “They’ve all been good to us,” Kasten said. All the money raised goes to the Salvation Army headquarters, but the majority of the money raised comes back to the community that raised it, according to Kasten. “We get 85 percent of the money.”

The goal this year was $17,500. The volunteers stopped ringing Christmas Eve.

Anthony Graham, left, of Carlinville, puts a donation into a kettle held by Reid Rhodes. Graham donated the money after visiting the U.S. Bank drive-through Dec. 18.

Source: Macoupin County Enquirer-Democrat, December 31, 2009