2026 Red Kettle Campaign in Milwaukee County kicks off Nov. 13

Also new this morning, it is a return of a holiday tradition. We love this. We are talking about the Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign. Yeah, they just kicked off the annual fundraiser in Milwaukee County. And Andrew Muzo live at the Milwaukee Public Market to really explain how the money you give helps people right here in our community. Hey, Andrew. Andrew? Hey, how's it going? It has truly been a festive morning here at the Milwaukee Public Market. I'm here joined by Major Beverly Gates of the Salvation Army. I've mentioned this before the event even started, but I did not realize how much Christmas spirit I would find at 7 a.m. at the Milwaukee Public Market. There was a band here, of course, a handful of speakers, Christmas trees, bells, all those things. I guess we could just start it off with that. As far as the Christmas spirit, the season of giving, why do you think that ties so well with the mission at hand for the Salvation Army? Well, you know, again, we're getting into the Christmas season and it's a time of giving anyway, whether it's our time or our talents or our treasures, it's a time of giving and we're just kicking it off today with our Red Kettle campaign. Over the next six weeks, the Salvation Army will be out on our street corners and at our stores, ringing that bell, raising funds that will help us to serve our community year round. Yeah. You even mentioned that emphasis. Sure, it's a six-month thing, but it's going to be serving you guys for 12 months, all year round. You sort of list off some of those services. I know we even had some speakers talk about how much these programs impact them personally. Those services range from youth services to serving those who are incarcerated, all of those things, right? You're right. The Salvation Army has several ministries around our community. Thank you very much. Food pantry is a key one where people come who need help with food because of the food insecurity. We've got a shelter, a 24-7 shelter, where one of our speakers was a resident at one point and now is in his own place. We've got our senior program. We heard about that today as well, where seniors are able to come and really not have to feel alone and get exercise and to enhance their minds and all those kind of things. So the Salvation Army is out here serving in many different ways. Our community. Yeah, for sure. And being able to see it all play out, hearing those stories, truly a remarkable time. And definitely a beautiful ceremony as well. I don't mean to bury the lead here, guys, but $3.3 million, that is the donation goal right here. People are starting to clean up, but I wanted to just pan right over there because you're seeing just how much this space is full of picture-taking, Christmas trees, this festive spirit this morning. But for now, I'll send it back to you in the studio. Look at all those folks. You know, really, this really marks the season of giving for me. It has really started once I've seen the red kettle campaign and the bell ringers. That sound of the bell when you're leaving them all. It's just like, okay, tis the season. We've made it. Let's go. I love that.