The spirit of the season once again rang loudly in Rochelle.
With the final tally in, over $8,500 was collected during the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign.
The end result — 90 percent of all monies collected will be given to those in need in the Rochelle community.
Volunteers of all ages tended the collection kettles, greeting shoppers from noon to 6 p.m. outside of Petro, Walmart, Walgreens and Big R on the Saturdays and Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas for a total of 250 hours.
“As a bell ringer, there’s nothing that gives me greater satisfaction than watching people give to this and to know so much comes back to the community,” Pal Colwill, Kiwanis Golden K member and volunteer said. “It’s just amazing how generous people are. They walk up and stuff the kettles full of money. It is truly amazing and quite satisfying to be a part of that.”

Larry Wing, chairman of Golden K said the volunteer signups begin a couple weeks before Thanksgiving. The Golden K sponsors the annual event.
“We had the Key Club students and also quite a bit of help from church members … United Methodist Church took one whole weekend, First Presbyterian Church took another weekend,” he explained. “We had some Golden K and community members as well and several from the church helped more than once. Our community is fantastic for that. We have a fantastic Christian community and they give … they give their time and their money. It is great.”
Beginnings
The ringing of the bell and the red kettle has been synonymous with the Christmas season for over a century. Donations to the Salvation Army assist in several ways including going to help disaster survivors, cure hunger, overcome poverty, provide shelter and combat addition.
Locally in Rochelle, the funds raised are available through the United Methodist Church. Wing explained years ago the Minister’s Association with St. Patrick’s Church started an emergency fund for those needing help with utility bills or unexpected expenses. After the association closed, a short time lapsed before RUMC officially took over.
“[Kiwanis Golden K] got involved when the Salvation Army came and gave a presentation at one of our meetings, asking for a representative,” Wing said. “We first started with 70 percent returning to the community, then it increased to 80. Now the last couple of years, 90 percent comes back.”
The remaining funds are used by the Salvation Army for equipment, such as the kettles, stands and the bells themselves.
Wing is grateful to the community’s support and generosity.
“We at the Golden K feel it is a worthwhile thing. It involves time and hours but it is worth it … it’s what we are about,” he added. “And sharing is what the community is about.”