Red Kettle 2019 aims for $200K goal
By Brandi Makuski
Volunteers are needed for the 2019 Red Kettle Campaign, which kicks off Nov. 8.
The Salvation Army’s annual bellringing fundraiser will go through Dec. 24 as usual, but this year, the need for volunteers is greater than ever. The Hope Center operated above capacity for all of 2018 with about 13,500 bed nights reported.
“It’s going to be tough for us this year; we lost both Shopkos,” said Bob Quam director of community development for the Salvation Army. “That was $16,000 right there.”
Quam said he’s working to potentially expand into new areas this year, but said the organization’s options are limited, as some stores don’t allow bellringers at their doors.
“We’d love to have enough volunteers to cover every shift,” he said, adding an average of $100 is collected every hour when a donation station is staffed by a bellringer. Unattended kettles raise only $5 an hour, he said.
About one-third of the Salvation Army’s annual budget comes from bellringing donations, Quam said.
Bellringers will be at Trigs, Copps Market in Plover, and Metro Market in Stevens Point, daily through Black Friday. Bellringing activities then expand to other stores, including both locations of Walgreens, Walmart, Amherst Family Foods, and other stores.
This year’s fundraising goal is $200,000.
The organization has about 300 bellringing shifts to cover, and volunteers are encouraged to sign up in groups, Quam said. Volunteer registration is open at RegisterToRing.com, or by calling the Salvation Army of Portage County at (715) 341-2437. Shifts are available from 10 a.m. t0 8 p.m. in Stevens Point, Park Ridge, and Plover, Monday through Saturday.