The Salvation Army has kicked off its Red Kettle Campaign for the season, stationing bell ringers outside of Southwest Michigan businesses to collect donations.
Benton Harbor Salvation Army Lieutenant Mario Bledsoe tells us the bell ringers are usually just people in the community who want to help.
“We have a lot of volunteers,” Bledsoe said. “We put out a post that we need volunteers, so we find them that way. People know that it’s coming every year, and also we hire a few bell ringers who have done well in previous years. They come back asking if we’re going to bell ring again. So we get them from years prior as well.”
And the Southwest Michigan Red Kettle Campaign this year is the biggest it’s been in several years. Bledsoe says they’ll have bell ringers in St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Coloma, South Haven, Paw Paw, Stevensville, and Bridgman. This is the first time in about 30 years they’ve had a Bridgman bell ringer. They can be found at the Harding’s.
Bledsoe says the Red Kettle Campaign is vital to the Salvation Army’s programs.
“It supports our men’s shelter. We have a men’s shelter that can hold up to 38 men a night. It supports our food pantry. It supports utility bills and assistance with that, rental assistance. It supports our youth programs. We assist with music and meals for the youth in that way.”
Bledsoe says the goal this year is to raise $162,000 by December 24. As of Friday, the Salvation Army campaign had already raised $96,000. Donations can be made in the form of cash given to bell ringers, or they can be made online. Bledsoe notes some of the bell ringers have methods for making donations via card or phone this year.
You’ll be able to find bell ringers outside of Harding’s locations in St. Joseph, Bridgman, and Coloma. They can also be found at some Walmart and Walgreen’s stores.
