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After a disappointing year for donations last year, officials with Aurora area Salvation Army units are hopeful they can reach their goals during this year’s Red Kettle drive, which began recently in the Fox Valley.

However, Salvation Army officials are bracing for yet another challenging year, given the recent government shutdown, a sputtering economy and the challenges of recruiting volunteers as well as paid bell ringers to work at posts at grocery and department stores in the next few weeks.

Salvation Army Major Corps Officer Joaquin Rangel, who oversees the Aurora Salvation Army center that serves the Naperville and Aurora areas, said his unit began its Red Kettle drive on Nov. 14.

Last year, Rangel adjusted the usual annual goal of the

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