The totals for the 2023 First Responder challenge are in. And the winner is…

By Brandi Makuski

The results are in for last weekend’s Emergency Services Red Kettle Challenge, and once again, the Plover Fire Department comes out on top.

That means the PFD will hang onto the traveling trophy given to the winner each year. This is the third consecutive win for the department, which rang bells outside of Walmart in Plover.

Off-duty members of law enforcement and fire agencies from the Wisconsin State Patrol, Portage Co., Stevens Point, Plover, and Dewey spent six hours ringing bells in a friendly challenge for the Salvation Army on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Alex McKelvey, fundraising manager for the Salvation Army Hope Center, helps organize the bell-ringing challenge.

“We did almost $1,500 better this year than last with a grand total of $12,603.64,” McKelvey said on Monday.

Here are final the results:

Plover Fire Department: $3,797.04
Stevens Point Fire Department: $3,072.75
Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office: $2,278.80
Plover Police Department: $2,047.95
Dewey Fire & EMS: $786.74
Stevens Point Police Department: $579.50
Wisconsin State Patrol (Only one off-duty trooper was available to ring bells for one hour): $40.86

McKelvey said bell-ringing volunteers are still needed, and donations for the Salvation Army are still being accepted. To sign up, or for more information, go to registertoring.com.