WILL COUNTY, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- It may seem a bit early, but the Salvation Army red kettles and bell-ringers are going to start making their appearance in the Chicago area on Monday.
The Salvation Army has set a goal of raising $18 million during its Christmas campaign. That includes red kettle donations outside stores and online donations.
Corps Envoy Scott Hurula is the Salvation Army administrator in Joliet and Will County and said 200,000 households are behind on their rent in Illinois right now and could use help.
“We’re very concerned about keeping people in their homes and so folks that apply to us for assistance, we’ve been able to help with utilities, especially with NiCor Sharing and many other resources and also with rental assistance.”
Hurula said he likes being a bell-ringer, which is something he started when he was a Boy Scout in Kansas City when he was in junior high school.
“It’s been something I’ve done ever since. I’m also a trombone player so I love to get musicians to come out with me and we play Christmas carols.”
He said many people who donate do so, because they remember the generosity the Salvation Army may have shown them or someone they know.
“People that would say that the first Christmas present I ever got as a kid was because of the generosity of the Salvation Army. So, they keep that going. They teach their children that generous spirit of Chicagoland,” Hurula said.
Besides being in front of Jewel Food Stores, Mariano’s, Hobby Lobby and Walmarts, Hurula said bell-ringers will pop up at other locations.
“In Joliet, the Rialto Theater is giving us permission. They’ve got nine Christmas-themed shows, movies, and events, stage productions that are coming and they’re going to let us be out there with our brass quartet to play Christmas carols.”
Hurula said signage at red kettles will include a QR code, which people can take pictures of in order to be taken directly to the Salvation Army online donation website.
Another digital option, he said, is using Apple Pay and Google Pay at the red kettles.
Of course, in the Chicago area, it’s always a curiosity to see where and when a gold coin will be dropped into a red kettle.
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