Chiefs’ ‘kettle challenge’ raises $2,273 for charity

<p>The competition was fierce, but good-spirited as Petaluma Police Chief Dan Fish and Fire Chief Larry Anderson faced off at the Petaluma Salvation Army’s annual kettle challenge on Friday.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>At the end of the day, it was Fish who raked in the most money, with a total of $1,232.23. Anderson collected $1,041.15, making for a grand total of $2,273.38 between the two chiefs.</p><p>“It was a very close race,” said Capt. Scott Schneider, corps officer of the Petaluma Salvation Army. “After a grueling tournament, members of both departments and the community showed up to support their chiefs.”</p><p>Every year since 1891, the Salvation Army has kicked off the holiday season with the sound of ringing bells and shiny red kettles. Five years ago, Petaluma started its own tradition — the kettle challenge — a face-off between Petaluma’s fire chief and police chief to see who can raise the most money.</p><p>Last year, former Police Chief Steve Hood earned bragging rights by collecting $1,409 of the $1,982 raised.</p><p>All the money raised in Petaluma kettles goes to Petaluma families and is used for Christmas food boxes and toys for children, as well as year-round services such as housing assistance, food and utilities. </p><p>For the second year in a row, the Salvation Army of Petaluma will run an all-volunteer kettle campaign, which means more money goes directly to those who need it.</p><p>(Contact Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieberich@arguscourier.com)</p>