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Volunteer bell-ringers needed by Salvation Army
Topics: volunteers, Salvation Army, bell ringers, christmas, donation
Posted by citizenjournalist Wed Dec 5, 2007 11:14:17 PST
Viewed 818 times
0 responses 0 comments The Salvation Army is calling on the people of Bakersfield to give back this Christmas season by volunteering as a Red Kettle bell ringer.
 
While many in the local community continue to struggle financially, the Army has seen a drop in volunteer bell-ringers in recent years, meaning fewer kettles can be manned and less money raised to support those in need.

Our volunteer bell-ringers are really the backbone of our Christmas fundraiser, which is our largest single source of public support each year. Even a handful of additional volunteers can make all the difference between a successful fundraising season and a decline in giving on the year. Every hour we can use a volunteer bell ringer we make almost twice as much. Volunteers become partners with us in making sure the mission of The Salvation Army continues by funding the efforts more effectively.
 
In 2006, The Salvation Army in increased in direct proportion to the amount of additional volunteer bell ringers added last year. We noted that volunteer kettle intake was larger and the workers were more involved in the effort in comparison to when we have to hire it done.
 
This year, The Salvation Army hopes to raise  $150,000. Missing this goal will mean that fewer people in the community will receive toys, food, clothing, money for heating bills and a variety of other social services at Christmas and throughout the year. Last year, around 30 Salvation Army Corps around the country reported volunteer bell-ringer shortages, leading, in some cases, to declines in overall fundraising. Our only hope to increase our income so we can continue meet the needs of the growing trend of the poor is an increase of volunteers.
 
Our Mission at The Salvation Army is to serve suffering humanity wherever, whenever and however we can. But, the fact of the matter is, we can’t do that without public support – of both time and money – during the Red Kettle Campaign season and throughout the year.
 
For more information, prospective volunteers should contact their local Salvation Army by calling 836x8487 x 8416 and ask for Heidi Tully or you can e mail her at: christmaskettles@yahoo.com. Individuals, groups and companies can also host a “virtual” red kettle to raise money for the local community. Additional information about this and other programs is available at www.salvationarmyusa.org.
 
From its humble beginnings as a fundraiser started by a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco in 1891, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States. In 2006, the campaign raised a record $117 million nationwide, with nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars being returned to help those in the communities where they were raised. The funds helped The Salvation Army to provide assistance to more than 35 million Americans in need.

In addition to the Red Kettle Campaign, the Salvation Army is also a sponsor of the Bakersfield Community Christmas, which is in full swing. We have over 3000 applications for families that need food. In addition, most families have children 12 and under that will not have toys for Christmas unless we provide them.

Last year we provided over  toys 25,000 toys to needy families. This year we will have the same need and at this time have less than 8,000 toys collected.

Toys can be dropped off at:

Bakersfield Community Christmas  location
(at The  Kern County Fairgrounds at The Fine Arts  Building)

Or any of the listed locations  below.
All City Fire Dept. Locations 
All Russo Book Stores 
Stars Gymnastics 
Pacific Shore Mortgage - 3977 Coffee Road#C 
Grocery Outlet 
Bakersfield Symphony- Nutcracker Performances 
Renaissance Design Studio on 18th Street 
The Salvation Army
Catholic Charities

For more information please call 836-8487


About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 127 years in the United States. More than 35 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

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