The Salvation Army has announced that it is actively recruiting volunteers to ring the bell at its iconic red kettles for the 2014 Red Kettle Campaign.
The local kettle campaign will launch on Friday, Nov. 14 at area Kroger stores, with additional locations at partner retailers added by the end of November. The campaign, which raised more than $800,000 locally last year, has been a staple fundraiser for The Salvation Army across the United States since the 1890s. For many, the annual kettle campaign is part of the fabric of the Christmas season.
“The kettle campaign is a major fundraiser and provides critical funds that support our mission,” stated Major Larry Ashcraft, Divisional Commander at The Salvation Army. “We’re very grateful for those volunteers who are willing to ring the bell to encourage donations and thank our generous donors.”
The Red Kettle Campaign in Cincinnati begins on Friday, Nov. 14 and runs through Christmas Eve. The campaign operates six days a week, Monday thru Saturday, generally 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily. The Salvation Army partners with Kroger, WalMart, Sam’s Club and other supportive retail partners locally, and customers at these stores are accustomed to seeing the familiar red kettles and bell ringers outside the stores. In total, kettles for the local campaign are placed at approximately 100 stores.
“It takes about 36,000 hours of bell-ringing to cover the kettles across the entire six-week campaign,” Matt Pearce, Development Director at The Salvation Army said. “We’re so grateful for the volunteers who come forward, many of them year-after-year, to help with the campaign. We consistently hear stories from the bell ringers about how much they enjoyed the experience. It’s a positive experience for everybody.”
Bell ringer volunteers are preferably 16 years of age or older; those under age 16 must have an adult with them. Volunteers are asked to commit a minimum of two (2) hours ringing the bell at a kettle location, but are welcome to volunteer for as many hours as they would like. Many volunteers bring their children, their dog or an instrument to play while ringing the bell – customers enjoy seeing families and groups at the kettle; musical accompaniment bolsters donations (but isn’t allowed at some locations). Volunteers can request specific store sites at which to ring the bell (among participating stores). Those interested should contact Michelle Jones, Kettle Coordinator, at michelle.jones@use.salvationarmy.org, or (513) 762-5641.