BC Salvation Army Raises $76K
The Barnes County Salvation Army set the Red Kettle Campaign goal in 2019 at $60,000—raising $68,544.88 during the 30day holiday period. This year, so much uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 led the BCSA board to lower that goal. Salvation Army Chairman Lee Isensee says that was a mistake: the 2020 Red Kettle Campaign brought in a total of $76,918.
“All of us on the Salvation Army Board are humbled again this year,” Isensee says. “The Holy Spirit touched the hearts of the
people of Barnes County. We couldn’t believe the generosity again this year.”
It was tough to find bell ringers to man the kettles located at Leevers North and South, and Petro, but some of the folks who volunteered went the extra mile.
“We only had the kettles manned about 1/3 of the time,” Isensee says, “but of that third, we had several people that rang almost every day for several hours, and that is truly a blessing.”
Generous individuals dropped their hardearned money into the kettles, raising $28,604 for the Barnes County Salvation Army. Even more donations poured into the Salvation Army through the mail.
“48,314 dollars in donations were mailed directly to me to go into our Salvation Army campaign,” Isensee says. “People couldn’t get out because of COVID, and yet the Holy Spirit touched their hearts and they wanted to continue to give.”
The first mailed check came from a man in California. He saw Lee Isensee’s name in a news article about the Barnes County Salvation Army and donated $5,000 to the campaign. It’s not because he has any ties to the community, either; rather, he has the same name as Barnes County Salvation Army Chairman.
The Salvation Army Board is so grateful for the generosity of the community—from the businesses who hosted the kettles, those who donated their time to ring the bell, those who tucked their money into the kettle and those who donated through the mail.
“It is truly the holy spirit working through them to help the less fortunate in the Barnes County area,” Isensee says. “We feel that everyone that rang the bell and put their money in the kettle is part of our salvation army team, and it is that large team that makes it possible to keep on helping those in need in our community.”
On the behalf of the Barnes County Salvation Army, Isensee thanked the Leevers North, Leevers South and Petro for allowing them to ring the bell inside their businesses, Wells Fargo for counting the money each day, and the local media for getting the word out about the campaign.
The funds raised through the Barnes County Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign go toward providing assistance to people. The organization helps individuals and families with expenses related to meals, lodging, healthcare, clothing, rent, utilities and transportation.