Karissa Bowser, Evelyn Bowser and Stephen Stoffel channel Christmas spirit before they begin their bell ringing shift. Photo provided by Ken Locke.

By Marissa Sweatland
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Salvation Army bell ringers have been ringing in the holiday season across the nation for over 100 years and locally since 1997.

“A lot of fundraisers look the same, but the bell ringing is unique to the Salvation Army,” Ken Locke, director of the program, explained. Bell ringing began this year on Black Friday and ends Saturday, Dec. 23.

Dr. Jervis Schafer of the Milford Lions Club stands by the iconic Salvation Army red kettle before starting his bell ringing shift. Photo provided by Ken Locke.

Every ring makes a difference. The money donated through the bell ringing program helps the community. The Salvation Army provides many vital resources to community members, including rent and utility assistance, food pantries and job skill training.

The Salvation Army is intentional in the way the organization meets the community’s needs. First, the Salvation Army assess the needs of the community. The Salvation Army works to understand the obstacles, hardships and challenges native to the community’s population.

After the needs are assessed, the Salvation Army starts building the programs to offer immediate relief, short-term care or long-term growth in the community.

Then the Salvation Army invests in the community by offering the local programs to the community, working to continuously optimize the program’s efficacy. By supporting the Salvation Army, you are directly supporting your community.

“The bell ringing program helps us be able to help the community throughout the year with our other programs,” Locke explained.

The Salvation Army also parents the Angel Tree, where anonymous children’s Christmas wish lists are picked off the tree by volunteers, shopped and donated.

“The money goes toward helping local families provide a Christmas for their children and other outreach programs through the year,” Locke explained. Every year, the Salvation Army serves more than 25 million people across the United States, so every donation is put to good use.

“There is no better way to celebrate the holiday season than to donate your time to help others,” Locke suggested, “giving is better than receiving!”

To become a bell ringer, register to volunteer at registertoring.com. On the site, volunteers can enter their zip code to find a red kettle near them. Locke suggests volunteers dress warm to volunteer as bell ringers.

If braving the cold weather is holding you back from volunteering, the Salvation Army offers the option for volunteers to register as a virtual bell ringer. As a virtual bell ringer, the volunteer can receive donations to an online fundraiser.

“It’s the season of giving, consider giving your time as a bell ringer or consider making a donation,” Locke suggested.

To find more information about being a bell ringer, visit registertoring.com or call (574) 267-5361.