(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody has scored his third straight victory in raising funds for the Salvation Army. The win came in the bell-ringing contest Tuesday against Michigan City Mayor Duane Parry.
Just over $2,700 was dropped into kettles manned by Dermody and his team outside Kroger in La Porte. Slightly more than $600 came out of the kettles Parry and his teammates were assigned to at Al’s Supermarket on Franklin St.
Last year, Dermody raised just over $6,000 in the kettles outside Kroger while Parry had more than $3,100 dropped into his kettles at the same Al’s Supermarket location. La Porte Salvation Army
Capt. Charles Pinkston said he’s not surprised at the lower totals because fundraising in the kettles this season is noticeably down here and elsewhere.
He believes inflation has taken a bite out of what people are able to give this year.
“Everything right now is down. It’s not unexpected,” he said.
Dermody also had an anonymous donor who matched every dollar dropped into his kettles to raise his grand total to more than $5,400.
“We’re excited about that. All of these funds go to helping those in need,” he said.
As of December 21st, about $45,000 had come out of the kettles at all locations in La Porte since the kettle drive began prior to Thanksgiving. The goal is $85,000. Pinkston said assistance with things like food and utility bills could go to fewer people next year to make up for any fund raising shortage.
