Cadillac’s Salvation Army is wrapping up their biggest fundraiser of the year and it’s already being called a success.
Officer In Command, Captain Greg Bock has been camping out in an oversized red kettle outside the Salvation Army store until they met their goal or until Christmas Eve to raise awareness about the homeless and the struggles they face.
“So, when you first start out. The days are cold and you just kind of sit there and wave to people, and people honk as they drive by, you start thinking to yourself, man, are we going to bring it in?” said Bock.
Bock said they did indeed surpass their $200,000, with early numbers totaling $210,000 this past Monday.
Bock has spent the last 7 years camping out in a giant red kettle the week before Christmas 24-7.
He said being able to talk to people in the community is a huge part of his mission in the kettle.
“I do a lot of waving. I’m also reaching out to donors, you know, asking them if they plan on giving this year or people that come by the kettle,” said Bock.
Bock said he loves when people stop by some even sharing their stories about the Salvation Army.
“The people that come by that donate, always have a story to tell about how maybe the Salvation Army helped them or their family member generations ago. Or maybe they did attend Salvation Army a long time ago, and it means something to them,” said Bock.
He said it also gives him another opportunity to help those in need.
“I had some people come to me and need warm socks. They needed gloves, they needed sleeping bags and, sometimes it was after the store closed and me, as the officer in command, I could go right to the thrift store and I could give them what they needed,” said Bock.
He said this is his last year you’ll see him camped out in the elements during the holiday season.
“So biblically, the number seven is the number of completion. And this is my seventh year living in a giant kettle. I did three years in Cadillac. This is the third year in Cadillac, three years in Iowa and one year up in Cheboygan County,” said Bock.
He said due to health issues, this year is it for him, but they are looking for someone to possibly take over, willing to camp out in the giant kettle next year.
“It’s sad that I have to give it up. I have to look out for myself, in order to continue looking out for others. So, if anybody out there wants to pick it up, you know. Absolutely. You can live in the giant kettle,” said Bock.
