Sisters Vanessa Sroufe, left, and Lydia Sroufe ring bells for The Salvation Army of Fulton County at the Rochester Runnings store in 2023. Bell ringing this year starts Friday, Nov. 29.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — Visitors to several Rochester businesses should notice people ringing bells by red kettles starting Friday, Nov. 29.

The Salvation Army of Fulton County’s annual bell ringing campaign starts on that date.

People will be out ringing at Walmart, Kroger, Runnings and Smith Farm Store this year.

Burton-Richland Center United Methodist Church Pastor Steve Hartman, who serves as chair for The Salvation Army in the county, said people are welcome to sign up for a spot by going to registertoring.com and searching by Fulton County information. They may also call David Smook at (574) 343-0568 to get a time.

Ringing should run through Christmas Eve, said Hartman. Time slots go from 10 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m., dependent on each business, he said.

If people are unable to give at a kettle or don’t have cash on hand, they’re not out of luck this year.

Hartman noted QR codes linking to a donation page for The Salvation Army of Fulton County will be at the four locations for people to give online.

People may access the donation page from anywhere at centralusa.salvationarmy.org/indiana and by clicking on “Donate Today” and then Fulton County from a list of locations.

Last year, $28,000 was raised from bell ringing in the county, said Hartman. Of the amount raised each year, 70% is retained by the local Salvation Army to cover utility bills and rent payments for people that United Ministries of Fulton County isn’t able to pay for.

The other 30% goes back to the greater Salvation Army organization. Some of that amount each year comes back to the area to help pay for needs of people who deal with disasters like house fires, explained Hartman.

He encourages people to give during the campaign as “there’s so many needs (locally).”

People also donate money indirectly to The Salvation Army as bell ringers, said Hartman.

“This is a way to give, so to speak, without putting your own money out,” said Hartman. “All you’ve got to do is ring the bell for (a few) hours, and you’ll get hundreds of dollars in donations that are going right to someone who needs it.”