Red kettle campaign wraps up with $2,300

    “We are super pleased with the generous community we live in,” said Ann McConnell, chairperson of the local Salvation Army unit.
    She reported that the inagural red kettle campaign in Phillips County raised over $2,300 — an amount that surpassed the original $1,500 goal.
    From Nov. 24-Dec. 23, dozens of volunteers rang the familiar Salvation Army bell to gather donations between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
    McConnell said she has so much appreciation for Holyoke Marketplace and Haxtun Super’s as well as the Country Christmas events in both communities that allowed the red kettle to be set up.
    She was happy to note several volunteers worked multiple shifts, small children got into the Christmas spirit by plopping change into the kettle, and some community members even committed to donating a little bit every single time they went to the grocery store.
    It was also a chance for the campaign to spread awareness of the local Salvation Army unit, something that many people had not heard of before. McConnell, Cecilia Marquez and Tiffany Watson keep the local unit going at the Phillips County Department of Human Services.
    All of the money raised from the red kettle campaign this holiday season will stay in Phillips County and will be used to aid residents during emergency situations.
    McConnell said she thinks Phillips County can expect to see the red kettle back in action next year since the campaign was such a huge success.
    In the meantime, year-round donations to the Phillips County Salvation Army unit can be sent to Phillips County Department of Human Services, 127 E. Denver St., Ste. A, Holyoke, CO 80734.