Kiwanis Club bell-ringers raise $25,000 for Salvation Army

Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key raised about $25,000 for the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign.

This made the club the second-highest fundraising Kiwanis club for the Salvation Army from Tampa to Venice.

"Volunteers are getting harder and harder to come by," said Captain Jim Curry from the Salvation Army of Sarasota County at the Jan. 18 Kiwanis Club meeting. "When I come to Publix out here, I see people dancing, people saying 'hi,' people knowing each other. That's what it's all about. It's about the sense of community and wanting to give to those that need desperate help."

Every year, volunteers from Kiwanis Club, Christ Church of Longboat Key and the Rotary Club of Longboat Key collect donations for the Salvation Army outside Publix at their bell-ringing station. 42 bell ringers came from Christ Church completing about 95 shifts throughout the bell-ringing season. The Rotary Club provided 15 bell ringers.

Kiwanis Club President Chris Sachs said without the efforts of Christ Church and the Rotary Club they would not be able have raised so much money. 

The Salvation Army of Sarasota County is on to its next mission. Curry shared that he is planning an after school arts program at the Tuttle Salvation Army location. The program would teach children all forms of art such as brass instruments, worship band music, singing, different dance styles, visual arts and drama. 

Salvation Army is also collecting donations to hit that fundraising goal. People can join the Bed and Bread Club for $25 a month. All the proceeds will go to help its transitional housing fund and sheltering local homeless children and their families. Go to Sarasota.SalvationArmyFlorida.org.