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photo by Sarah Stultz
Albert Lea firefighter Ben Davis hands off the Albert Lea Salvation Army red kettle to Salvation Army Capts. Jim and Lee Brickson and their youngest daughter, during the Red Kettle Campaign kickoff Friday morning. Earlier that morning, volunteers started ringing the familiar bells out of an effort to raise money for the organization.
Salvation Army’s kettle campaign is underway
Published Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Albert Lea Salvation Army kicked off its 2008 Red Kettle Campaign Friday with a bucket brigade of sorts through Northbridge Mall, as it set on its path to raise $134,000 for local programming and efforts to help those in need.
Just after 10 a.m., three members of the Albert Lea Fire Department arrived outside Northbridge Mall carrying a Salvation Army red kettle. The firefighters passed off the kettle, one by one, to each other and then to local Salvation Army Capts. Jim and Lee Brickson.
Inside the mall, the Bricksons handed off the kettle one by one to other Salvation Army staff and volunteers all the way down the mall to the kettle stand outside of the Herberger’s store.
There, at the end of the chain of people, Chris Mishler, the 2008 Albert Lea Salvation Army Christmas chairman, attached the kettle to the stand.
It was the official start of bell ringing, which will go through the month of December.
Mishler encouraged people to support the cause of the Salvation Army. Though people are living in uncertain economic times, he said, they still need to remember there are still people out there who are less fortunate.
Photo by Sarah Stultz
From right, Albert Lea firefighters Jim Berg, Trevor DeRaad and Ben Davis bring in the Albert Lea Salvation Army red kettle Friday to kick off the organization’s Christmas campaign at Northbridge Mall.
The sound of bell ringers will be a constant reminder of the need that is trying to be met. There will be bell ringers out at ShopKo, Herberger’s, Hy-Vee, Nelson’s Market Place and Wal-Mart. There will also be about 60 counter kettles at different business throughout town.
Funds raised through the campaign at the various locations around town help the Salvation Army with a myriad of assistance programs for the community, including after-school and summer day-care programs for low-income families, temporary shelter, rental and fuel assistance, a food pantry and budget counseling to help families achieve economic independence.
“The Salvation Army does some wonderful things,” Mishler said. “Most people don’t realize all the things they do.”
Just this week, the Salvation Army served a community Thanksgiving meal to about 420 people.
Capt. Lee Brickson wanted to emphasize that the money raised through the campaign stays local.
“Each community raises for its own community,” she said.
Though the organization does help externally in some cases, it mainly helps locally.
Those who would like to volunteer to help bell ringing still have about 544 bell ringing hours to choose from out of a total of 1,454 hours.
Volunteering to ring the bells is a way of giving, even in times of financial hardship, she said.
People in need of Christmas assistance can fill out applications Dec. 4 and 5 from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 6 p.m. at 302 Court St. Applicants must live in Freeborn County. They need to bring identification for each member of the household, proof of residence and proof of all household income.
Distribution will be Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 6 p.m. and on Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon at 822 S. Broadway Ave. (the old Buy-n-Save building).
Comments
Posted by the_truth (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great cause, BUT:
If "need has no season" then why do the bellringers always come out at this time of year ONLY?
That idiocracy just ticks me off!
I've hated the bell ringing every year I've been alive. It's bad enough I have to deal with insane public madness when I need to get some TP or milk. I just want to get my stuff in PEACE and not have to deal with BEGGARS!
Maybe those that receive the benefits of the bellringers should be out there earning their keep instead?
Posted by ljg (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the-truth,God LOVES you too.
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it's great! The Salvation Army bell ringing is a great Christmas Season tradition. They don't come into your workplace like the United Way does. I remember when they were on Broadway in their cold green booths. I give every year to them!
Posted by headscratcher (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the_truth
you must be the modern day Scrooge.
Posted by Videoguy84 (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 11:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with headscratcher, who crapped in your wheaties this morning?
I have no problem with the bell ringers, it's for a good cause and I personally think it adds to the holiday festive feel. It's a tradition, and I feel a sense of satisfaction when I give at Christmas time...then again I guess I'm old fashioned...
Posted by BLSSS (anonymous) on November 30, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately there is always going to be a scrooge out there somewhere! AND there are those that cheat the system to get what they can for free. However, there are those that work, very, hard to support their families and just can't seem to make ends meat.
I was a single mother with 4 children (not by choice), I worked a 40 hour week to put food on the table, clothes on our backs (rummage sale items & second hand stores), heat the house, pay the electricity, put gas in the car, pay daycare, etc... BUT, how do you tell your little ones that there is nothing extra for a small gift at Christmas time, or a winter coat that fits and keeps them warm!
If it weren't for the thoughtful people, of OUR community, my children would have gone without! Thanks to the generosity of OUR community, my children received coats, an outfit each, a small stocking stuffer as well as a larger gift. We also received a box of food. I can't even begin to tell of the love & appreciation that I felt.
Have you ever seen a 10 year old child cry? Of course you have. BUT have you ever heard that 10 year old say "This is the BEST Christmas ever, Mom"? It brought me to tears to hear this and all because of OUR community.
I gave thanks in numbers to everyone involved. I sent a thank you note and a small home-made gift to show my appreciation. The sad thing!!! I was told that this was the very 1st time anyone had ever done this. Before anyone gets on their high-horse, please understand that I am NOT patting myself on the back. I don't think that I did anything special and am not looking for praise or anything else. My point is it that some people just aren't appreciative for what others do for them?
Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all the following.
The bell-ringers for standing in the cold, rain & snow.
The people who donate money to help out those less fortunate.
The people who pick names off the Christmas trees, to give a special gift.
The social workers & others who put these programs together for US.
The stores who donate food.
The churches & their members who help those in need.
To those that have a kind word, a smile, etc...
This list can go on and on and does. I can't begin to thank everyone enough for all that they do. God bless each & everyone of you.
Happy Holidays
BLSSS
Posted by time2share (anonymous) on November 30, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said, BLSSS...Thanks for the touching story. Most feel just the same as you. It wouldn't be Xmas without the Salvation Army and all the other generous contributors. Thanks for the comment and I wish everyone a Happy Holiday...
Posted by scurvydog (anonymous) on November 30, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the_truth:
Wow. Just wow. I didn't realize that people volunteering to raise money to help the poverty of others was such an inconvenience to you.
For that matter, how do you know that the people receiving benefits aren't also out there volunteering? It isn't welfare. It's charity.
I sincerely hope you are never in a position where you have to rely on the kindness of others. No, scratch that - I hope you ARE in that position someday, at least temporarily. Maybe then you'd have a little empathy for the poor.
Oh, and by the way - as far as need has no season goes - it's the KETTLE campaign that runs during Christmas - because that's the busiest shopping season and an opportunity to collect for those who might not otherwise (for one reason or another) be able to have a Christmas. The Salvation Army accepts donations, be it cash, items at the thrift store, or items for their food shelf - because we will always have the poor. Christmas isn't the only time they need help - that's what that means.
Posted by headscratcher (anonymous) on November 30, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It also the season of giving! God gave us His son.......what can you give?
Posted by tamilynne (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My 2-year-old will not let us leave a store unless we put money in the bucket if there is one. It started at Wal-Mart on Friday, then at ShopKo and Walgreens right after. "I gotta put money in the red bank" she says.
It may only be a few cents, but it really adds up and helps after a while.
Kudos to those who donate their money, and their time volunteering.
(I do agree that the stupid bell gets REALLY annoying after a while... I used to work the Service Counter at ShopKo and listening to it for 8 hours can give you one big migraine!)
Posted by scurvydog (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can see where eight hours straight of ANYTHING would get annoying. It's one of the reasons that when I worked in a retail environment, I would get sick to death of Christmas music, usually weeks before Christmas.
Posted by Outsider (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The only time I don't like seeing them is when I don't carry any cash to give them. But if the money is on me I throw it in.
Posted by scurvydog (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Outsider -
It's easy to feel that way, because I know a lot of people walk by. But the bell ringers have no way of knowing if you gave to the last bell ringer you saw (instead of to them), or if you mailed a check directly to the Salvation Army for that matter. I can't imagine anyone ringing the bell faulting anyone for not giving at that particular moment. I've never thought that any time I've rang the bell.
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