Red Kettle campaign kicks off with donation from Quaker Steak

BOARDMAN

The Youngstown Salvation Army kicked off its 2014 Red Kettle Campaign at a breakfast Thursday provided by Quaker Steak & Lube at 435 Boardman-Poland Road.

Mahoning Valley residents can find the Salvation Army red kettles at area shopping centers from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday through Christmas Eve.

The 2014 campaign fundraising goal is $345,000, said Major Elijah O. Kahn, area coordinator for Salvation Army Mahoning County Area Services.

Last year, the Salvation Army raised $341,554.68 through kettle donations and a special sponsorship program in which local businesses donated $1,000 to sponsor a kettle.

The Rev. Mr. Kahn said this season, the organization is introducing a new program: “Online Red Kettle.” For information or to host an Online Red Kettle, visit www.onlineredkettle.org/northeastohiodivision.

Jeff Muirhead, general manager of Quaker Steak, kicked off the campaign with a $1,000 donation from the company, which has hosted the event for four years.

Read more about the campaign in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.