Richard (Dick) and my wife, Frances Wilkinson, moved into their new home at 3187 Barrel Court, Redding, in February of 1990. According to Dick, "For our first Christmas that year, we simply strung a few sets of large colored lights on our gutters and around some windows. Over the years, we've expanded this display, adding lights to the house and our big red barn, which was built in 1939 and came with the house. Now, our Christmas lights are a well-known attraction, drawing thousands of visitors annually."

In December 2010, The Wilkinsons began collaborating with the Salvation Army by placing a "Red Kettle" in their driveway. Over the last fourteen years, they've raised nearly $317,000. To manage the heavy traffic, they distribute large five-inch candy canes, mainly to children. Last year, they gave out around 12,000 candy canes. Typically, these are bought in late January from large retail stores when they're sold as surplus at about 10% of the regular price. However, in January 2024, no surplus candy canes were available and they had only about 2,000 left. However, with community support, the candy cane stock issue has been resolved, although they always welcome more for future years.

Dick and Frances are private citizens supporting a nonprofit, not a nonprofit themselves. If you're interested in helping, you can purchase five-inch candy canes and drop them off at the Redding Salvation Army at 2691 Larkspur Lane, where 'The Salvation Army' will provide a receipt for your donation. Alternatively, you can bring them directly to their Red Barn; their contact number is (530)-246-9131.

Each year, the Salvation Army ensures Christmas cheer for thousands of local families who might otherwise go without. All donations to the Red Kettle stay within the county to support the community. Please take a moment to review the attached Salvation Army information.