Columbia Falls wins kettle drive, again
Participating in the Columbia Falls annual kettle drive, from left, Darin Fisher, George Jenkins, Carl Sobczak, Grady Jenkins, Art Williams, Mike Shepard, Susan Nicosia, Barb Staaland, Nona Boyd and Maj. Steve Svenson of the Salvation Army. Not pictured are Mayor Don Barnhart, John Piper, Jenny Lovering, Rick Hagen and Clint Peters.
Once again the City of Columbia Falls took top honors in the Salvation Army’s annual kettle drive. Once a year, the cities and major towns of the Flathead Valley compete to see who can raise the most money for the charity in a day.
This year Columbia Falls and city staffers raised $2,687.16. Bigfork was second with $1,511.80 and Kalispell was third with $1,189.08. Evergreen took fourth with $838.02, Whitefish fifth, $582.77 and Lakeside was sixth, $357.50.
Kalispell’s draw was boosted by a nearly $600 donation by Smith’s.
Columbia Falls has won the contest for three years in a row now.
The kettle drive is the major fundraiser for the Salvation Army, which offers support for people in difficult circumstances across the country. More than 30 million were helped by the agency last year across the country.