For the City Times

STEVENS POINT – The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign is holding its annual Portage County Public Safety Challenge on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Members of the Plover Fire Department, Plover Police Department, Stevens Point Police Department, Stevens Point Fire Department, The Wisconsin State Patrol, Park Ridge Fire Department and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office will “battle it out” to see who can raise the most money in their respective red kettles.

The Public Safety Challenge runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday at the following red kettle locations: Stevens Point Police Dept. at Trig’s in Stevens Point, Portage County Sheriff’s Office at Copp’s Market – Park Ridge, Stevens Point Fire Dept. at Fleet Farm on Hwy 10, Plover Fire Dept., Plover Police Dept. at the entrances of Walmart in Crossroads Commons, and Park Ridge Fire Department at the Walgreens in Park Ridge.

“All public safety staff in Portage County are deeply invested in this challenge,” said retired Portage County Sheriff John Charewicz. “They see firsthand the work the Salvation Army does on behalf of the underserved in Portage County and are happy to ‘compete’ to raise dollars for Salvation Army programs that serve our communities year-round,” he added.

The Red Kettle Campaign in Portage County runs through Dec. 23 at 4:00 PM.  To sign up for shifts at any number of locations Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM, please log on to sastevenspoint.org, or call the Salvation Army at 715-341-2437 to sign up for shifts.  The goal of this year’s campaign is $175,000.