By Jim Bloch
Two community organizations, separated by 25 miles, raised $13,261 for the Salvation Army of St. Clair County during the Christmas season’s Red Kettle fundraising campaign.
The St. Clair Rotary Club raised $7,227 for the Salvation Army. Sherman Woods Homeowners Association raised $6,034.
St. Clair Rotary Club
Bellringers at Neiman’s Family Market in St. Clair in December.
The Rotarians bell-rang at Neiman’s Family Market in St. Clair on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in December from 10 a.m.-noon. Rotarian Ralph Livingston organized the bellringers.
“This year, we added the St. Clair County Clerk’s Office to our bell ringing team,” said Gerry Mason, Immediate Past President of St. Clair Rotary, in December. “Welcome Angie Waters and her staff. We are pleased to have the Prosecutor’s Office and Sheriff’s Office back again this year. We are also expecting St. Clair High School and St. Clair Middle School students and band members again this year.”
Mason said the need for charitable help in St. Clair County is greater this year than last.
“The Salvation Army has 1,443 kids and 758 families,” Mason said. “We are up 220 kids and 100 families.”
The Salvation Army sponsored Angel Trees at Wal Mart and Birchwood Mall for residents interested in adopting a child for holiday gift-giving.
Sherman Woods Homeowners Association
Volunteers staffed a Red Kettle in Sherman Woods during eight weekend nights in December, plus Christmas Eve. Visitors made donations while viewing the distinctive Christmas decorations that the neighborhood organizes annually.
“We are pleased to report residents and those visiting our neighborhood during the holiday season provided strong support once again for the Red Kettle campaign,” said Fred Kemp, president of the Sherman Woods Homeowners Association, in a statement.
Bellringing and seasonal decorations were not the only draws to the subdivision. The month of collection featured the Sherman Woods Chorus, visits from Santa Claus, the Grinch and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Since its inception in 2016, the Sherman Woods collection drive has raised $48,328 for the Salvation Army.
“We appreciate the residents and their friends and family members who volunteer their time to ring the bell and accept kettle donations during such a busy time of the year,” Kemp said. “The generosity of visitors to our neighborhood who contribute to the campaign each year to help the Salvation Army in Port Huron provide gifts for children and meals for families in need at Christmas is greatly appreciated.”
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, MI. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
