Plover firefighters ring bells for the Salvation Army on Dec. 7. (Metro Wire photo)

The totals for the 2024 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 fourth 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, Dewey, and for the first time, Amherst, spent eight hours ringing bells in a friendly challenge for the Salvation Army on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Amanda Phillip, office manager for the Salvation Army Hope Center, helps organize the bell-ringing challenge. She said the goal for the season is $175,000.

This year’s total is 11,121.04, about $1,500 below 2023 totals.

2024 Results

Plover Fire Department: $2,806.21
Portage County Sheriff: $2,466.43
Plover Police: $1,860.42
Stevens Point Fire Department: $1,659.34
Amherst Fire Department (first year participating): $957.80
Stevens Point Police: $886.80
Dewey Fire Department: $396.71
Wisconsin State Patrol (two officers only available for a short time): $87.33

2023 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