By Beacon Staff
Salvation
Army bell ringers will sprout up like poinsettias when the charity
organization’s annual Red Kettle fundraising campaign begins Monday,
Nov. 8.
But the Burlington Salvation Army is in dire need of volunteers and paid workers to actually ring those bells.
“We have a bell ringer shortage,” said Burlington Salvation Army lieutenant Alisha Welch.
Alisha
and her husband Nathan Welch kicked off the season of giving with a
presentation next to a gigantic red kettle in the lobby of Catfish Bend
Casino Monday, Nov. 1. The large kettle will stay on the premises, while
the rest of the kettles will be a much more manageable size.
Gary
Hoyer, CEO of Great River Entertainment and chairperson of this year's
kettle campaign, proved the point by dropping the first two donations
into the chest-high bucket. Fellow community members followed suit.
“The
Salvation Army is really one of those iconic charities that everyone
knows," Hoyer said. “It's there to feed the hungry, it's there to clothe
the poor. The Salvation Army is there when there's times of crisis,
whether it's a storm or fire.”
As of Nov. 1, only half dozen bell
ringer applications had been turned in. The Welches are hoping for at
least 20 applications, whether it be for volunteer or paid bell ringer
positions.
By the end the month, there will 12 bell ringer
locations in front of Burlington stores. The first six kettle stands
will go up Nov. 8, in front of Hy-Vee stores, Hobby Lobby, Fareway and
Farm King. Walmart, Walgreens and other stores will join them after Nov.
20.
The bells will ring from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday, except
for Sundays and Thanksgiving, through Christmas Eve. The quest to bring
in bell ringers for those positions gets a little tougher every year.
“In
the past three years, in my other locations I’ve worked for, we’ve seen
a steady decline in bell ringers,” Alisha Welch said.
The
overall goal of the campaign is $190,000, but the goal for the actual
kettles is $74,000. The rest of the money will be drummed up through
random donations and mail-in campaign. Burlington hasn’t missed its
target goal in nine years.
Though the Red Kettle campaign only
happens before Christmas, the money earned from the fundraiser supports
the Salvation Army throughout the year. That funds all the programs the
charity administers.
“It means hot lunches can be served at our
meal site Monday through Friday," Alisha Welch said. "It means we can
provide monthly food boxes to members of our community. It means we can
continue to help clients with rent and utility assistance. It means we
can provide clothing vouchers to our thrift stores for families in
emergency situations. It means there's a safe place for children to come
on Wednesday nights for youth programs. It means there can be toys
under the Christmas tree for families in need, like mine once was."
Alisha
Welch is in charge of the Christmas Angel Tree program, which gets toys
to kids who might not get any otherwise. Those who wish to donate toys
will receive a specific child to buy for, with toy suggestions. Those
toys will be distributed by the Salvation Army.
Those who want to apply for a bell ringer position can do so at http://www.registertoring.com or by calling the Burlington Salvation Army at 319-753-2038.