Salvation Army Kicks Off Red Kettle Drive Friday
The St. Cloud Salvation Army's annual bell-ringing campaign opens with a kickoff event at Coborn's in Sauk Rapids.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The St. Cloud Salvation Army will launch its annual Red Kettle campaign Friday, November 13, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Coborn's in Sauk Rapids. The kickoff, sponsored by Joyce Linn's Primerica Financial Services, will hand out more than 500 cookies, coffee, and hot cocoa.
Why it matters
Food pantry assistance at the Salvation Army food shelf rose 35 percent in August, and dozens more families per week are seeking help. The campaign's fundraising is intended to meet that rising demand in the St. Cloud area.
The bell-ringing campaign aims to raise $150,000 of an overall $600,000 holiday-season goal, while food pantry assistance rose 35 percent in August. Whether donations will meet either target has not yet been reported.
The players
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international Christian charitable organization known for its red kettle donation campaigns and social service programs.
Joyce Linn's Primerica Financial Services
Primerica Financial Services is a financial products company, and this local office sponsors the Red Kettle kickoff event.
The details
Volunteers will collect donations through red kettles at Coborn's and Cash Wise locations, the Travel Plaza in Clearwater, Teal's in Cold Spring, Hobby Lobby, Fleet Farm, and other sites. Donors can also give online or sign up to bell ring through the Salvation Army website.
Timeline
August: Food pantry assistance rose 35 percent.
Friday, November 13, 2026: Red Kettle kickoff event from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Coborn's in Sauk Rapids.
Season Trajectory
The Red Kettle campaign is an annual holiday fundraising tradition for the Salvation Army, and this kickoff marks the start of its season-long push. The local goal sits within a broader $600,000 holiday-season target for the St. Cloud chapter.
Residents can drop donations into red kettles at Coborn's, Cash Wise, Fleet Farm, Hobby Lobby, and other listed sites, or give online. Volunteers who want to bell ring can sign up through the Salvation Army website.
The takeaway
Donations and volunteer bell-ringing directly support the food shelf, which has been busier than ever in recent months. Local residents can help by giving at any listed kettle or signing up to ring a bell.
What happens next
Red Kettle bell-ringing will continue at the listed locations through the holiday season toward the $600,000 goal.
Further reading
For more on local giving, browse Philanthropy coverage across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KDHL AM 920.
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