Recently, we concluded another successful year for our Kewaunee County Salvation Army Kettle Campaign. The money raised through these kettles provides year-round assistance to residents of Kewaunee County who may find themselves in a short-term financial crisis. The types of assistance which can be provided include rent or mortgage assistance. Help with utility bills, including electric, gas or LP service to their homes, and even in some cases short term lodging, or emergency food or gasoline needs.

The criteria for these types of assistance are that the person is in fact a Kewaunee County resident and that the individual or family can receive assistance only once in a 12-month period.

While other areas of our nation and state saw a decrease in the donations to this campaign, Kewaunee County has once again shown their generosity in that we surpassed last year’s total of $20,715.00 with this year’s total of $21,662.00.

In Algoma alone, they saw an increase from $9,500 in 2015 to $10,480 in this year’s campaign. A big thanks to Jerry Guth and his army volunteers for staffing the kettles in the Algoma area. The ability to have volunteers at the kettles can be the difference between people donating and people merely walking by.

Thank you also to Becky Massart who coordinated the kettles in the Luxemburg area and Matt Joski who coordinates the kettles in the Kewaunee area.

Of course, none of this generosity would be possible without the entire community’s support both from those who take the time to place their contribution into the kettles, but especially by those who take the time out of their busy days to stand by the kettles and ring bells. There are many stories from volunteers of how fun the experience was or how they were able to visit with so many people both old friends as well as new acquaintances.

The best news of all is that we will be doing this all again next season and will again be looking for volunteers to usher in another season of giving and supporting those in need here in Kewaunee County.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: Kewaunee County Salvation Army drive exceeds $21K