Benjamin Franklin is no stranger to the Salvation Army.
Anonymous donors have made a tradition of dropping $100 bills into the red kettles that grace local store fronts during the holiday season. Last year, Franklin made about a dozen appearances throughout Fort Dodge.
But a two-day stretch last week blew that streak away.
"We had a really exciting night on Wednesday," said Capt. Danielle Shields, administrator and pastor of the Salvation Army in Fort Dodge. "We received five $100 bills at Wal-Mart, which also happened last year."
Then came Thursday.
When the buckets were emptied that evening, first one, then another bundle of 10 $100 bills were discovered.
"They were wrapped in $1 bills," Shields said. The $100 bundles came from kettles at Wal-Mart and the Crossroads Mall, she said.
In total, 33 $100 bills have been donated to the Salvation Army so far, said Shields.
"I've never seen anything quite like it," she said.
However, there's still a long way to go before the Salvation Army reaches its $115,000 goal, she said.
With seven days left in this year's kettle campaign, $49,000 has been raised so far, according to Shields.
"It's going well, but it could be going better," she said.
Past years have seen a large influx in donations during final campaign days, a pattern likely to play out again this year, Shields said.
On Thursday, firefighters from the Fort Dodge and Badger fire departments will hold their annual competition to see which can raise the most money during four hours of bell-ringing. Firefighters from Badger will be stationed at Wal-Mart and those from Fort Dodge will ring at Hy-Vee.
Last year, the kettle campaign raised more than $113,000, exceeding the goal of $110,000.
In addition to kettle-driven donations, the Salvation Army sends out a mail appeal for funds.
"Those are trickling in," said Shields. "We know a lot of people wait until the end of the season."
Located at 126 N. Seventh St., the Salvation Army provides services to the needy including meals and counseling.
The kettle campaign provides about 40 percent of the local Salvation Army's annual income.
"We're just really grateful," Shields said. "We're looking forward to another great year serving the community, and we couldn't do it without everyone's generosity."
Contact Jesse Helling at (515) 573-2141 or jhelling@messengernews.net
