Religion News: Salvation Army
Bell ringers sought to sound the need to help others
NIAGARA FALLS — Salvation Army bell ringers have been helping raise money for people in need for 117 years, but the job of recruiting volunteers is about as difficult as it has ever been.
The Salvation Army in Niagara Falls is desperately short of bell ringers for the holiday season, Maj. Jerry Stinson, the commander of the local corps, said last week.
“We didn’t have enough bell ringers last year, and this year our volunteers are way down,” he said. “With less money coming from our Red Kettle Campaign, we won’t be able to help people get through these hard times.”
Up to 20 volunteers are needed in the Salvation Army’s seven locations in the Falls to effectively run the campaign, Stinson said. As of Wednesday, he and his wife, Susan, who helps run the corps, had recruited 13 volunteers.
If they don’t have enough volunteers to ring the bells and handle the kettles at all seven locations, Stinson said he will concentrate on positioning the bell ringers at the stores with the greatest amount of foot traffic.
Money collected in the red kettles is used throughout the year to fund services for individuals, families, children and senior citizens. The campaign last year raised $56,000, short of the goal of $63,000.
This year’s goal has been lowered to $60,000 because of tough economic times.
“This winter is going to be very difficult for many struggling families,” Stinson said.
In Niagara Falls, volunteers station themselves for varying lengths of time and on various days at four Tops Markets, a Wal-Mart, Kmart and Sam’s Club. Tops is the only store that allows bell ringers to stand inside the store’s vestibule. The others make them stand outside.
Bell ringers need permission from businesses and corporations before they can set up their kettles in or outside their buildings.
Many businesses, notably Wegmans, won’t allow Salvation Army bell ringers to stand inside or outside their stores.
“Ten years ago we were at Targets,” said Stinson, referring to the chain store. “Now we’re not there anymore. If corporate America continues to have a policy of shutting us out, one day there will be no bell ringers.”
He added, “That’s why we’re very grateful to Tops, Wal-Mart and Kmart.”
In Lockport, the Salvation Army needs two bellringers to stand outside Wal-Mart, said Robert Drinkwater, the Red Kettle campaign coordinator. The Lockport corps has recruited 10 of the 12 volunteers it needs for its four locations, which also include two Tops markets and a Qality markets.
Volunteers are asked to call 434-1276.
In Niagara Falls, the Stinsons are appealing to local service clubs, such as Rotary and Kiwanis, to ask their members to come forward and help the Salvation Army recruit more bell ringers.
Volunteers are asked to call the Salvation Army at 283-7697 or the Red Kettle Center, around the clock, at (877) 764-7259. Information online is available at www.redkettles.org . The Red Kettle Campaign got under way Saturday and runs through Dec. 24. Drivers pick up the red kettles after each volunteer shift and take them back to the Salvation Army building on Buffalo Avenue, where it is immediately banked.
The Red Kettle Campaign began in 1891, when a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner to poor people in the area. Kettles are now used in more than a 100 countries.
The Stinsons were assigned to Niagara Falls about 18 months ago after serving in Westchester, Pa., for 15 years. They were struck by the poverty level in Niagara Falls.
“This is a very poor community,” Jerry Stinson said. “We don’t have enough resources — people power or money — to be able to meet the ongoing needs of the people.”
The shortage of seasonal bell ringers is one of the difficulties facing the Salvation Army.
“The hardship in the community is greater and the number of volunteers is down,” Susan Stinson said. “This is the challenge.”
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments