Stevens Point News

Main Menu

  • Covid 19
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Crime
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Obits
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Legal Ads
    • Our Legals
    • Statewide
  • E-Edition
    • Stevens Point City Times

logo

Stevens Point News

  • Covid 19
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Crime
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Obits
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Legal Ads
    • Our Legals
    • Statewide
  • E-Edition
    • Stevens Point City Times
Top Stories
Home›Top Stories›Red Kettle Fundraiser Kicks Off with $150K Goal

Red Kettle Fundraiser Kicks Off with $150K Goal

By STEVENS POINT NEWS
November 13, 2016
720
0
Share:

By Jacob Mathias

The bell are back in town.

Veterans Day marked the kickoff of the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign fundraiser, this year themed “Share Your Blessings, Be Blessed.” Bob Quam, Stevens Point Salvation Army Director of Operations announced this year’s fundraising goal was $150,000, exceeding last year’s total contributions of about $130,000.

“Many families are still finding it very hard to stay afloat, and we’ve seen it firsthand in the numbers of people coming to us for help,” said Quam. “It’s especially hard during the holiday season, when so many of our neighbors don’t know how they’ll have the means to provide for their families.”

The highlight of the kickoff was the presentation of a $10,000 donation by Travel Guard. Each year the Travel Guard employees vote for a charity to support, and the Salvation Army topped this year’s ballot. Travel Guard employees also manned the bells throughout the first day of the campaign.

“Our employees will also be ringing through the entire campaign,” said Jim Koziol, Executive Vice President of Operations at Travel Guard.

Over 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through social services ranging from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter for the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children.

The event began with the singing of Christmas carols led by popular bell ringer Fred Ellis.

In attendance on Friday were a slew of local officials, to include Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza, Village of Plover Administrator Dan Mahoney, Plover Police Chief Dan Ault, Stevens Point Police Chief Marty Skibba and Portage County Chief Deputy Dan Kontos.

“This is the time of year we really need to be thinking about those folks who need assistance,” said Mahoney. “We look forward to everybody’s support.”

Mahoney, Wiza and Portage County Executive Patty Dreier will be teaming up to ring the bell in the coming weeks.

State Assembly Representative Katrina Shankland was also present for the kickoff.

“I’m so confident in our community and the strength of it,” said Shankland. “And it really has a lot to do with the people here today.”

Barbs were shared between law enforcement and fire departments — who battle each year over which can raise the most money. The fire departments won last year, and are scheduled to ring bells at various locations on December 10.

“That’s a lot of big talk,” joked Ault. “And I think somebody cheated last year.”

Quam said volunteers are needed for this year’s campaign. Anyone interested can go to www.ringbells.org or call 715-341-2437. The campaign runs from November 11 to December 24 with shifts from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday at almost a dozen locations in Portage County.

If you see an unattended kettle and bell, Quam said, you’re encouraged to begin ringing yourself.

TagsFeatured
Previous Article

We Want Your Opinion

Next Article

Photo of the Day: Taking Their Best ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Top Stories

    City Looks to Add More Parking Meters

    July 10, 2013
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS
  • News

    Mayor Issues Statement on Snow Removal Enforcement

    April 17, 2018
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS
  • Community NewsTop Stories

    Stevens Point Airport Renamed After Hero Fighter Pilot

    January 29, 2014
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS
  • Community News

    Exclusive: Alderman Really After Dark Masked Vigilante

    April 1, 2014
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS
  • Top Stories

    Secrets of the world’s most popular handbags

    October 8, 2013
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS
  • Top Stories

    The only outfit you need for this fall

    October 7, 2013
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS

High School Sports

Go to High School Sports

Free SP Newsletter

  • Sports

  • Commentary

  • SPASH names new head football coach

    By Taylor Hale
    May 4, 2022
  • Nelson’s walk-off sparks series win with three victories

    By Taylor Hale
    April 13, 2022
  • UWSP women’s basketball coach announces retirement

    By Taylor Hale
    April 9, 2022
  • Pitching dominates with pair of one-hitters as Pointers finish sweep

    By Taylor Hale
    April 5, 2022
  • SPASH trap shooting club hosts fundraiser

    By Taylor Hale
    March 16, 2022
  • Ice fishing contest Reels in $1,500 for Portage County Literacy Council

    By Taylor Hale
    March 17, 2022
  • Kemmeter Column: County celebrates year after quarantine

    By Taylor Hale
    July 12, 2021
  • Isherwood Column: Great engineering projects two

    By Taylor Hale
    July 11, 2021
  • Shoes News Graphic

    Show Column: Odd Jobs

    By Taylor Hale
    July 9, 2021
  • Looking ahead with Larry: July 2

    By Taylor Hale
    July 5, 2021

About Us


The Portage County Gazette is published every Friday by Multi Media Channels. It is locally-owned, locally-operated and locally-written. Subscriptions are $59 annually, delivered via the U.S. Postal Service.


To subscribe, go www.shopmmclocal.com/product/portage-county-gazette or call 715-258-4360

  • 2619 Post Road, Stevens Point, WI 54481
  • (715) 343-8045
  • News editor: [email protected]
Copyright © 2022 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×