This time of year it’s common to hear those familiar bells on sidewalks in front of stores and see those Red Kettles collecting donations for the Salvation Army. But what Red Kettle location brings in the most money? It’s not even a contest. The Redding area’s most lucrative Red Kettle collections take place not in front of a store, but on Barrel Court in the Bonnyview area of south Redding at the home of Fran and Dick Wilkinson. For drivers on South Bonnyview, it’s hard to miss the big red barn lit up with thousands of Christmas lights and decorations. Sometimes the line of cars winds all the way from the front of the house around the corner and onto South Bonnyview. For many people it’s an annual tradition and worth the wait to drive by and check out the light show. Since 2010 the Wilkinsons have been filling Red Kettles for the Salvation Army and over the course of that 15 years they’ve collected a total of nearly $340,000. It’s a laborious task with a lot of help from the Wilkinsons’ extended family and other volunteers, as Dick just celebrated his 94th birthday.
– Steve Gibson