MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The 127th Red Kettle Campaign is hoping to eventually surpass last year’s totals, despite a slower season than normal.
“As of Wednesday [December 20], we’re about $9,500 down from that time last year, which is about seven percent,” said Lt. Allen Adkins of the Salvation Army.
Despite the somewhat slower year, Adkins said there’s always great enthusiasm for the Red Kettle campaign. That’s because they are always excited for the well-known “Secret Donor.” That donor, once again, made an anonymous $1,000 donation at one of the Red Kettle locations.
“I know the volunteers and the kettle workers, they get pretty excited,” Adkins said. “You know they think, ‘Well it didn’t happen yesterday so it’s got to happen today.’ You know everyone wants it to hit in their kettle.”
This year the donor dropped off the $1,000 bill at the Patteson Drive Kroger.
“The Red Kettle drive is our largest fundraiser,” Adkins said. “The Salvation Army, we kind of live or die by that.”
Donations were also received via mail and through texting until Saturday, Dec. 23. Adkins said the donations that are received are used for various programs throughout the county that serve those who are less fortunate.
“It helps us with the Christmas work that we do, the food, the clothing, the toys, things like that for kids,” he said. ” But really it also funds social services into the next year.”
Along with the Red Kettle Campaign, The Salvation Army also held it’s annual toy drive, which helped distribute presents to less fortunate children in the Mon County Region.
“We had three very successful angel tree distributions,” he said. “We have one in here in Mon County and also in Marion County and Preston County.”
You can get more information about Salvation Army’s programs by calling (304) 296-3525.