Caring Causes - Salvation Army Bell Ringers

 

One of the familiar signs of the upcoming holiday season is the sound of a ringing bell accompanied by the sight of a Salvation Army bell ringer at a red kettle. In less than three weeks, The Salvation Army’s red kettles will be out in force at store entrances and street corners throughout the Twin Cities. This year’s campaign, however, is overshadowed by a sharp rise in families and individuals needing help.   "We’re acutely aware of the rising need in Minnesota for food and housing assistance, especially in light of recent cutbacks in traditional government support programs like SNAP and HSS,” said Salvation Army division commander Lt. Colonel Randall Polsley. “We’re already starting to see the anticipated spike in demand resulting from these changes.”   Bell ringers needed In order to meet this added demand, The Salvation Army has a vital need to register additional bell ringers. “Volunteer bell ringers make a significant impact, as they can raise $160 to $200 during a two-hour turn at the kettle—enough to feed six families for a week,” Polsley said.   The Red Kettle season will kick off Saturday, November 15th with the lighting of The Salvation Army “Tree of Lights” in St. Paul’s historic Rice Park, starting at 5:30 pm. This year’s goal is to raise $1.9 million at more than 260 kettles located around the Twin Cities metro area.   The kettles are a critical element to The Salvation Army’s overall holiday fundraising campaign, as roughly two-thirds of the organization’s funding is raised during the year-end holidays. Kettle donations are essential to help provide struggling families with food, housing and financial assistance throughout the year.   "All the analysis we’ve done confirms that a kettle without a ringer collects no donations, so volunteering as a bell ringer makes all the difference,” said Sophie Crowell, volunteer relations director. “Additional bell ringers means that more people will get the assistance they need.”   Crowell added that bell ringing with friends, family or co-workers is fun and rewarding, and it can be a great learning opportunity for families with children. “We have bell ringers who will sing or play an instrument, or even dress in all kinds of costumes,” she said. “It’s amazing how a bell and a kettle will bring out the best in people you meet.”   Digital Technology at the Kettles Every Salvation Army red kettle now displays a QR code that allows quick and simple donation options using Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, PayPal or credit card. In addition, about 1 in 5 kettles are outfitted with “Tap to Give” technology, which allows a tap of a credit card or smart phone to make a kettle donation in just seconds.   “The trend is that fewer people are carrying cash, and these digital payment options make it incredibly easy to quickly make a small donation at the Red Kettle," Polsley said. “Kettle gifts are critical because they directly help local families struggling with food or housing insecurities.”   History of the Red Kettle The kettle tradition started in San Francisco in 1891 when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee collected coins in a soup kettle to fund a Christmas dinner for the area’s poor and destitute. The idea spread and, today, that tradition continues throughout the world.   Individuals, families, churches, businesses and others can find out more information and begin their own bell ringing tradition by signing up at RegisterToRing.com.       #     #     #   The Salvation Army Northern Division last year helped 369,000 people overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardship through a range of social services, meeting human needs without discrimination. This year, new struggles caused by food shortages, inflation, increased energy costs and the threat of eviction have elevated the numbers of those seeking assistance.   By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army Northern Division is #DoingTheMostGood at more than 85 operation centers in Minnesota and North Dakota. For more information about The Salvation Army Northern Division, please visit SalvationArmyNorth.org.