Realtors® Volunteer for Red Kettle Campaign

Despite the bitter cold, Realtors® across the commonwealth volunteered their time this season for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. Members from 16 local associations rang bells to raise money on Friday, Dec. 5. The first Friday in December has become a tradition for Realtors® to volunteer.

The Red Kettle Campaign originated in 1891 when the Salvation Army placed a large iron pot in San Francisco to collect donations for a community Christmas dinner. Since then, it has become an iconic holiday tradition, raising millions of dollars for the Salvation Army’s various services.

Kathy Obermeyer, president of the McKean County Association of Realtors®, helped coordinate members from her association to volunteer at a local market.

“Our association has been doing this for several years and we look forward to the day. We have a lot of fun too,” she said. “We like to do our part for the community and it’s for something bigger. It’s great to see all those smiling faces from people who walk in the door and give us a donation.”

The Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors® participated in Ring Day for the first time this year.

“It was a great event for our first year as we had members spread out across locations in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties,” 2025 GLVR President Michael Bernadyn said. “We were able to raise $1,500 for our inaugural event with 19 members volunteering their time, and we’re looking forward to continuing this next year!”

“Ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, we believe, is so crucial and is more than just a bell. It’s the sound of curing hunger, the sound of Christmas to a child in need, the sound of a safe place for our neighbors to obtain warmth and sleep. That ringing bell is truly the sound of health, hope and comfort to neighbors in our communities,” he added. “As Realtors®, we are ingrained in our communities; we are the voices and advocates for our neighbors. As 2025 president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors® organization, I can say it made me proud to be a member, proud of our membership for stepping up, and proud of our dedicated association staff for organizing such an event.”

Anne Costello, past president of the Bucks County Association of Realtors®, also enjoyed participating in the collection of donations for the Salvation Army.

“It was an honor to work with the Salvation Army, manning the Red Kettle for Ring Day,” she said. “Coins, dollar bills, fives, tens and twenties were all dropped into the bucket to help our neighbors in need. It was great to have Realtors® from all over Bucks County join in the fun!”

Local associations that participated in Ring Day were:

• Allegheny Highland Association
• Beaver County Association
• Bucks County Association
• Central Susquehanna Valley Board
• Clearfield Jefferson Association
• Fayette Board
• Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors®
• Lawrence-Mercer Association
• Luzerne County Association
• McKean County Association
• Reading-Berks Association
• Realtors® Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh
• Schuylkill County Board
• Warren County Association
• West Branch Valley Association
• Westmoreland West Association