By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Volunteers are needed to help ring bells at the iconic red kettle stands this holiday as the Salvation Army raises money for the community.
Major Ronald Key with the Salvation Army in St. Joseph says for many people, the Red Kettle stands represent holiday spirit.
"I think without kettles Christmas would look different for a lot of people just because they're used to seeing that iconic kettle stand and a bell ringer standing there," Key tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, I think that just kind of reminds them of the need, that's the time of the year that we have a need, that money is used here to help us to help other people when they walk in our door whether that's food, clothing, housing, whatever that may look like."
Red kettle stands will be at five different locations around St. Joseph starting November 11th and running through Christmas Eve.
"The more money we raise the more we have to help other people also," Key explains. "So, I think it's just important, you know, some people walk by and say, hey all I've got is change, you know that's ok change adds up, and I always say change makes change."
Volunteers will be out at Price Chopper, Walmart, Sam's Club, Hobby Lobby, and East Hills Mall every day through the drive, except for Sundays and Thanksgiving.
Key says the number of volunteers did start going back up last year, after being down during the pandemic.
"But there's still some individuals or groups that have not rung for us since COVID, so we're hoping that some of them return back to us or some of the groups instead of taking a longer period of time maybe they took an all day shift they were only taking a four-hour shift or whatever," Key says. "So, we're hoping that kind of opens back up now that COVID seems to be behind us."
Anyone interested in volunteering to help ring bells should contact the Salvation Army offices.