Bell-ringing for the Red Kettles

Terry and I rang bells for the Salvation Army's Christmas campaign this evening.  This was the second time we've done it this season and the first time for us ever.  What a great experience we had!  Each time we spent about an hour and a half wearing our red volunteer aprons, standing with our bells, greeting perfect strangers, and wishing them 'Merry Christmas' as they dropped their loose change into the kettles.  We volunteered through our Missions group at church and look forward to being able to do it again next year. 


About The Red Kettle Christmas Campaign

The Red Kettle Christmas Campaign enables the Army to provide food, toys and clothing to over 6 million people during the Christmas season and helps more than 34 million Americans recovering from all kinds of personal disasters nationwide.


The Red Kettle campaign, first started in San Francisco in 1891, has traditionally been The Salvation Army’s most prominent fund-raiser. In 2004, the campaign raised over $100 million in communities nationwide, with the nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars all remaining in the towns where the money was deposited into the kettles. The funds raised help support many of the 37 million people in poverty who turn to the Army for food and toys at Christmas, utility and homeless assistance, senior and child care, drug abuse treatment and many other social service needs. (from http://www.ringbells.org/)

I'd like to suggest that if you're looking for an activity that you can do with your children or grandchildren, this is a great opportunity.  I understand that all you have to do is call the local Salvation Army and tell them that you'd like to volunteer.  It's just that easy.