YAKIMA, Wash. — The Salvation Army of Yakima Valley is holding its second annual Red Kettle $20 Challenge on Saturday, where donors will match every $20 bill or check up to $10,000.
“We’ve secured matching gifts up to $10,000, so that means when we count the money, every $20 bill will be added up and matched, again, up to $10,000,” said Meagan Ruff, corps officer with Salvation Army of Yakima Valley. “It’s a really great way to raise money.”
In 2021, the organization was able to raise $8,000 worth of $20 bills dropped into red kettle locations across the Yakima Valley. With donors matching the amount, they ended up with $16,000 they were able to use to better help the community.
Ruff said they rely heavily on their red kettles to support efforts like their food bank, student food services, family services and year-round youth programs.
“Doing well on the $20 challenge can be the difference between being able to hire extra staff for a summer day camp and let more kids into summer day camp or having to cut staff … and have less spots for children,” Ruff said.
Ruff said to participate, people can drop a $20 bill or $20 check in any of the red kettles in the Yakima Valley. They can be found at Fred Meyer, Walmart, Rosauers, BiMart, Hobby Lobby and various Wray’s and Safeway supermarkets.
While there are Salvation Army locations participating across the region, Ruff said any of the $20 bills donated at red kettles in the Yakima Valley will stay within the community.
Ruff said the money could be used for any number of helpful services, including their after-school program, summer day camp, food bank and case management and financial support for families in need.
“Those are all the kinds of things that this money goes to help: the everyday programs and services that we provide in Yakima,” Ruff said.
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