The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign raised approximately $126,000 this holiday season in Douglas County, exceeding its goal–and the number could still go higher.

With the kettle collections, large donations and several donated gold coins, the campaign exceed its goal of $125,000 this year. The official amount will be determined after the anonymously donated gold coins are auctioned off on Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Lawrence Country Club. Salvation Army officials say they expect the coins to bring another $6,000.

The campaign started on Nov. 16. Bell ringers and red kettles were sprinkled throughout the county at various store locations, including Walmart, Dillon’s, Ace Hardware, Hy-Vee, Checkers, downtown Massachusetts Street and more. Many of the bell ringers were low-to-no-income employees, individual volunteers, professional club members or employee groups.

About 83 percent of the collections benefit the community through Salvation Army programs such as feeding the hungry, case management, holiday programs and youth programs.

“It benefits in a whole bunch of ways,” Barry Watts, development director, said. “Here at the Salvation Army, we have a lot of programs. It’s really a direct impact on the community.”