Let the bell ringing begin

(CQ) H. Rick Bamman-hbamman@kcchronicle.com Salvation Army bell ringers Ethyl Bergeson and her husband Paul wait for donations in front of the Blue Goose supermarket in St. Charles. The annual Salvation Army fundraising campaign started this week. Geneva 11/20/08

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

ST. CHARLES - The sounds of bells ringing and change clinking are about to become the norm.

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign officially begins today at about 30 locations in the Tri-Cities, as hundreds of volunteers brave the cold weather to ring in donations for those in need.

The campaign, which lasts about a month, brought in about $300,000 last year from sites in Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles, said Major Steven Koehler with The Salvation Army. He said they hope to meet that goal this year as well, explaining the holiday campaign provides about half of the organization’s annual budget.

“In light of the economy, we feel comfortable at leaving it at that,” Koehler said of the financial goal. “But, just like everyone else, our Thanksgiving and Christmas lists have grown and it’s really critical that we keep our doors open and programs running.”

Standing outside the Blue Goose Super Market Thursday afternoon, Paul and Ethyl Bergeson took turns ringing their bell and greeting customers.

The St. Charles couple have been bell ringers for about five years and said it’s a great cause that raises money to help locals in need for the upcoming holidays. Donations from the Tri-Cities will be used to provide food, toys, winter clothing and other services to Tri-City residents, Koehler said.

“We’ve been very blessed and the community has been awfully generous to us,” said Paul Bergeson. “It’s our way to give back.”

And while many of the area’s bell ringers are volunteers, The Salvation Army also offers the gig with a minimum wage salary, a job that an unemployed Mike Gilgan said he couldn’t pass up.

“[The Salvation Army] helps me out and it lets me help, too,” Gilgan said, as he stood next to a red kettle at Blue Goose in St. Charles. “It’s my first year, but it won’t be my last.”

Koehler said the kettle campaign requires between 300 and 500 volunteers to work two hour shifts from now until mid-December. Even though the ringing has already begun, Koehler said they are always looking for more volunteers.

For more information on The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign or to learn how to volunteer, donate or get assistance, go to www.ringbells.org or call 630-377-2769.