Salvation Army Corps Sgt. Major Ryan Hindinger greets shoppers outside Boscov’s in Altoona on Friday. Mirror photo by Conner Goetz

The Altoona Salvation Army’s festive Red Kettle fundraising campaign has returned for the holiday season, with an ambitious goal and expanded donation events.

According to Major Chris Blessing, 10 of the iconic red kettle stands are now operational across the area, allowing shoppers to support a number of community-bolstering causes.

The Salvation Army chapter in Altoona runs a number of programs designed to support people experiencing homelessness, as well as children and adults, Blessing said.

The nonprofit also operates its own food pantry in the city, which is a key resource for combating food insecurity.

The 2025 campaign is aiming to raise a total of $90,000, Blessing said, which is $20,000 more than the previous campaign’s target.

It’s an “absolutely achievable” number, he said, as Blair County is a “very generous community.”

The 2024 edition of the red kettle campaign hit its goal, so the organization decided to aim higher in 2025, especially in light of higher across-the-board operating costs for the organization, Blessing said.

Stands will be manned by a combination of volunteers and paid Salvation Army employees from 11 a.m. till 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday in front of several major retailers such as Walmart, Boscov’s and Hobby Lobby.

U.S. dollars and coins are the preferred form of donations, but that has not deterred people from putting a “wide variety” of other forms of currency in the red kettles, Blessing said.

In previous years, individuals have contributed all types of foreign coins, along with inappropriate items such as car wash tokens and pills, both over the counter and prescription, according to Blessing.

The centerpiece of this year’s campaign is the Drive-By Giving event scheduled for Dec. 20.

This expanded event will feature Salvation Army staff manning the intersection of Union and Sixth avenues in Altoona from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., allowing motorists to donate from their vehicles via a mini red kettle on a pole.

Last year was the first installment of this program, Blessing said, with the 2025 version scaled up and now featuring hot chocolate from the Salvation Army’s distribution van parked next to the intersection.

A full list of red kettle locations and volunteer opportunities can be found online at www.wpa.salvationarmy.org.

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.