The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drive is a way for people in the community to give back to those in need. And Monique Brech, director of the Selma Salvation Army, said this year was a great year.

“I think we did really well,” Brech said. “I’m pleased.”

The red kettle drive earned $43,360 in 2016, around $860 more than the previous year.

“It’s real exciting because this is my first Christmas as director,” Brech said. “I got put in this position Oct. 1, so I really didn’t have time to plan our Christmas season like I wanted to, to get our kettles going, so to have a better season than we had in the past, it was really exciting to me.”

The campaign started Nov. 21 and ran through Dec. 24, with locations all over the city and in a couple places outside the city. Brech said all the money will stay in Selma and the surrounding areas and helps with various things throughout the year.

“[The money raised] supports us throughout the year. It will help us to do more social services. We do utility assistance, we do rent assistance, we do clothing assistance, we have a food pantry here, any fire victims,” Brech said. “It helps us help more people.”

Brech said the kettle is a great way for people to give back to those in their own community.

“It means that their money is going to work here in their community,” she said.

Brech said her hopes for the coming years is to raise even more money, and to be an all-volunteer organization for the kettles.

“We need more volunteers, because the more volunteers we have, the more people give,” she said. “My goal is to be all volunteer in the coming years, which would be great.”

The red kettle drive is the Salvation Army’s largest fundraiser each year.