Tri-City Salvation Army kettle donations to be matched Dec. 9 and 16

This year, the Salvation Army Tri-City Corps is hosting two Kettle Match Days to raise funds for the St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia communities, according to a news release from the Salvation Army.

Each day will have its own sponsor who has pledged to match donations. On Saturday, Dec. 9, the Shodeen Family Foundation will match up to $25,000. On Saturday, Dec. 16, Colonial Cafe will match all local donations to the Salvation Army’s red kettles up to $30,000.

The Salvation Army said in the release that fewer donations are coming in to fund the services the Salvation Army Tri-City Corps provides. That makes Kettle Match Day even more important.

The Salvation Army Tri-City Corps asks that people keep an eye out for the red kettles on those days and consider making their donation stretch even farther because of the kindness of Colonial Cafe and the Shodeen Family Foundation, who are partnering with the community to give back and help those locally in need.

“We are pleased to partner with and support the Salvation Army Tri-Corps in all that they do to serve the community,” said Anna Harmon, director of the Shodeen Family Foundation. “We are blessed to have a long relationship of support to the local Salvation Army over the years. The work they do to aid those less fortunate in the area and to help people through difficult circumstances is truly remarkable.”

Funds raised from the kettles stay locally and are used by the Tri-City Salvation Army Corps for its adult and children programming and its food pantry, which has seen a 40% increase in use this past year.

The Salvation Army said in the release that more than 25,000 people have been helped through rent and utility assistance, with toys, clothing and meals at Christmas and through older adult classes and after-school and summer programming for children this past year, thanks to the kindness of donors, volunteers and organizations.