Bell ringer Frank Miller from Butler greets people as they donate money to the Salvation Army outside of Rural King in Clearview Mall Center Twp.

While the closing of both Kmart and Friedman’s in Butler have affected the Salvation Army’s local Christmas campaign, the bell ringers are off to a good start.

Valerie Hazeldine, who shares commanding officer duties with her husband, Daniel, said the Salvation Army in Butler has set a goal of raising $100,000 by Christmas Eve, through their familiar Red Kettle campaign.

The goal could be hindered by the closing of the two businesses, but Rural King at the Clearview Mall in Center Township has agreed to allow a kettle and its accompanying bell-ringing volunteer at the store’s entrance.

“The loss of Kmart and Friedman’s has eaten into the number of stores we have to stand at considerably,” Hazeldine said. “We’re lucky we got Rural King.”

She said last year’s goal of $100,000 was exceeded by about $150.

“We were very happy with that,” Hazeldine said.