M-W Rotary completes 36 years of bell-ringing by delivering $8,500 to Salvation Army

MONROE — At the Monroe-Woodbury Rotary's Feb. 20 meeting, Rotary President Eric Hassler presented an $8,500 check to Captain James Downs of the Salvation Army in Middletown.
This was money raised by volunteers from Rotary and the Monroe-Woodbury High School Interact Club, who braved the elements tending the famous Red Kettles at ShopRite, Stop & Shop and Walmart during the holidays.
M-W Rotary has organized the Kettle Campaign in the valley since 1983, collecting $221,728 over the 36 Holiday Seasons.
Downs thanked Kettle Chair Cliff Berchtold and all the volunteer bell ringers.
“We anticipated a large shortfall this season, due to some store restrictions," Downs said. "Thanks to this sizeable contribution, we are almost at our Kettle Goal of $125,000. Need has no season … your ringing, and the generosity of this community, will help us serve about 4,000 people locally.”
To learn more, or to add your donation, go to www.mwrotary.org.