The Geneva Rotary Club’s annual Christmas Eve bell-ringing campaign for the Salvation Army Red Kettle brought in an impressive $8,152 this past holiday season.
Rotarians manned several key locations around town throughout Christmas Eve, collecting $4,076 in donations. The generosity of an anonymous benefactor who matched that total doubled the final amount. Donations poured in from various sites, with the downtown kettle collecting $1,195, Pedulla’s location contributing $955, and two Walmart stations raising $877 and $585, respectively. Five Star Bank brought in an additional $464.
Major David Champlin of the Salvation Army expressed deep gratitude at a recent Rotary meeting, noting the crucial impact of the funds raised. “Please accept our sincere appreciation on behalf of the hundreds of families who received food this Christmas and children who received toys … all because of the generous gift of time and effort given by the Rotary Club membership,” he said.
Rotary President Jason Haag commended Rotarian Charlie Bauder for overseeing the effort and highlighted the participation of other club members. “Service Above Self is our Rotary motto, and this effort to raise money for the Salvation Army embodies community service,” Haag said.
Geneva Rotary is part of the global network of 1.2 million Rotarians dedicated to local and international service projects aimed at improving lives and fostering cultural understanding.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.