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Richard (Dick)
and my wife, Frances Wilkinson, moved into their new home at
3187 Barrel Court, Redding, in February of 1990. According
to Dick, "For our first Christmas that year, we simply
strung a few sets of large colored lights on our gutters and
around some windows. Over the years, we've expanded this
display, adding lights to the house and our big red barn,
which was built in 1939 and came with the house. Now, our
Christmas lights are a well-known attraction, drawing
thousands of visitors annually."
In December
2010, The Wilkinsons began collaborating with the Salvation
Army by placing a "Red Kettle" in their driveway. Over the
last fourteen years, they've raised nearly $317,000. To
manage the heavy traffic, they distribute large five-inch
candy canes, mainly to children. Last year, they gave out
around 12,000 candy canes. Typically, these are bought in
late January from large retail stores when they're sold as
surplus at about 10% of the regular price. However, in
January 2024, no surplus candy canes were available and they
had only about 2,000 left. However, with community support,
the candy cane stock issue has been resolved, although they
always welcome more for future years.
Dick and
Frances are private citizens supporting a nonprofit, not a
nonprofit themselves. If you're interested in helping, you
can purchase five-inch candy canes and drop them off at the
Redding Salvation Army at 2691 Larkspur Lane, where 'The
Salvation Army' will provide a receipt for your donation.
Alternatively, you can bring them directly to their Red
Barn; their contact number is (530)-246-9131.
Each year, the
Salvation Army ensures Christmas cheer for thousands of
local families who might otherwise go without. All donations
to the Red Kettle stay within the county to support the
community. Please take a moment to review the attached
Salvation Army information. |
