RING THEM BELLS

Salvation Army kicks off Red Kettle campaign

TROY, N.Y. » Troy Salvation Army rang in the Christmas season on Saturday by kicking off its 2017 Red Kettle Campaign, which has a goal of raising $80,000.

Business owners, government officials and local residents took part in a ceremony at The Troy Atrium, joined by Salvation Army envoys Vangerl and James Pegues and community advisory board members.

The corporate partner for this year’s drive is The Vecino Group, a Missouribased housing developer and the newest resident in the Salvation Army’s Troy neighborhood. With the motto “Housing for the Greater Good,” the company is looking forward to

becoming active in the Troy community.

This year’s Kettle Drive chair is Ronnie Schermerhorn, project manager — New York State, Vecino Group. The Vecino Group has developed Hudson Arthaus, 80 affordable housing units with community amenities for artists in Troy, and their second project, 444 River Lofts, which will include 74 residential units as well as retail space when it opens in 2018.

Tri- City ValleyCats mascot South Paw took part in the ceremony along with the Salvation Army Band.

This is the Red Kettle campaign’s 127th year. All money raised stays in the community where it is collected to support yearround social service programs.

The Troy Salvation Army site at 410 River St. has community meals, a food pantry and produce available from the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The chapel is open regularly with services held on Sundays.

More than 1,200 people throughout Rensselaer County are helped by these programs every month. In addition to the Red Kettle campaign, Salvation Army is quite active in other ways during the holiday season. It takes part in

the annual Victorian Stroll in downtown Troy, as conducts Adopt a Family and Christmas Tags programs to benefit families and children in need at Christmas time.

PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM Bill and Mindy Fowler of Averil Park, left, make a donation to the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign that kicked off Saturday, as volunteer Margaret Crawford of Wynantskill, right, looks on.

PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM Salvation Army Major (ret.) Thomas Dingman shows one of the food boxes people are given at Thanksgiving time.

PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM Troy Salvation Army held a ceremony on Saturday to launch its Red Kettle fundraising campaign for 2017. From left to right are Major (ret.) Thomas Dingman, Lt. Alberta Rakestraw and envoy Vangerl Pegues.

PAUL POST — PPOST@ DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM Troy Salvation Army has set a goal of raising $80,000 for this year’s Red Kettle campaign.