A homeless man hired to raise money for the Salvation Army by standing near a kettle and ringing a bell outside a Vernon Hills store has disappeared, along with the kettle full of donations, officials said Wednesday.
The 32-year-old man was last seen late Friday as he rang a bell outside Sam’s Club in the 300 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, said Capt. Dianna Williams of the Salvation Army’s Waukegan office. It was his first day on the job.
“Our main concern is that he is safe,” Williams said, noting that the kettle may have contained as much as $300.
The man lived in a homeless shelter and filled out an application with his Social Security number about a month ago, Williams said. The non-profit group hired him as a bell ringer for $6.50 an hour, she said.
A Salvation Army employee saw him late Friday afternoon when he drove past the store. When the employee returned about 8 p.m. to collect donations, the bell ringer was gone, Williams said.
The man disappeared with a Salvation Army windbreaker and identification card, as well as the kettle and bell. Police are investigating.
