The Orange County Disaster Rebuild group can now ring out their success. They have a big, brass bell to do it. The group won the Orange County Salvation Army’s first Bell Ringer award for getting the most contributions during the annual Red Kettle Fundraising effort at Christmas.
The group volunteered to help out the Army, which helps in disasters. Disaster Rebuild collected more than $1,200 on a Saturday outside the West Orange Walmart. Salvation Army Captain Frankie Zuniga said the group filled up one kettle and the Army had to deliver another one. It was more than half full when they finished.
The Salvation Army Thursday evening had a “thank you” reception for people who volunteered during the Christmas season. The groups included St. Therese Catholic Church, which had volunteers at kettles for 10 hours one day, and the Orange Service League. The Service League’s Toy Coffee had enough donated toys to provide 400 children with presents.
Captain Jan Zuniga said the Army broke records with toy and cash donations at this past Toy Coffee, thanks to the generosity of hosts Paul and Raul Burch, who shared their Lindenwood home for the event.
2019 was the first year the local Army had sponsors for bell-ringing days. Granger Chevrolet, International Paper, Horizon Dental, and St. Paul Episcopal Church sponsored match-the-kettle grants giving up to $1,500 on a week day. The Houseman Companies matched the kettle on a weekend for $2,500. The Army plans to have the same program for 2020.
Captain Frankie Zuniga also thanked local board members, especially to “Tiny Mighty Cecil Broom.” Broom led the board volunteers who packed the holiday food boxes. She said they made more than 400 boxes in 45 minutes.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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