Mayors to face off in Red Kettle Challenge

The fourth annual Salvation Army Mayors Day Red Kettle Challenge will take place Saturday. Mayors in Spokane and Kootenai County are facing off to see who can raise the most dollars for their community.

Spokane Mayor David Condon is hoping to lead his city to a first-time win by collecting the most donations at the Spokane Fred Meyer on Thor Street. Condon will man the red kettle starting at 10 a.m., and a team of volunteers will help to staff the kettles until the end of the competition at 7 p.m.

Spokane's mayor will be facing three Kootenai County mayors: Vic Holmes of Rathdrum, Dick Jurvelin of Fernan, and Steve Widmyer of Coeur d'Alene. The Kootenai County mayors will be staffing the kettles at the Coeur d'Alene Fred Meyer for one hour each, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., before handing the bell-ringing to Salvation Army Advisory Board members and friends.

Kootenai County has won the competition in past years, with former Coeur d'Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem leading the bell ringers to victory in 2011 and 2012.

Although 2013 did not feature a challenge between both counties, Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson and Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer rang the bell and raised more than $24,000 for Kootenai County.

With a drastic decrease in kettle donations this year, the stakes are higher for Mayors Day at the Kettle than ever before. Both Spokane and Kootenai County are vying for a win to help raise money for The Salvation Army's critical outreach programming, which will be used to help families in need this Christmas and throughout the new year.

"If folks were considering a donation to the Salvation Army at all this year, this is the day to do it," said Kroc Center Executive Director Major Ben Markham.

At 7 p.m., the kettles will be pulled from both locations to do a quick count of cash and checks. If a winner can be easily determined, it will be announced Saturday night. If the totals are too close to call, a winner will be announced Tuesday morning, after an official count is given by US Bank.

"The best part of this event," said Maj. Steve Ball of the Spokane Salvation Army, "is that no matter who raises the most money this Saturday, everyone wins by promoting community support and holiday charity."

All kettle donations collected in Kootenai and Spokane counties benefit Salvation Army programs in their respective counties.