In a world of Internet shopping and shoppers paying by card rather than cash, some optimists believe that ringing a bell will encourage someone to donate coins or currency to a good cause.
Black Friday brought out Salvation Army bell ringers to some of the busiest shopping locations in Columbus, with the familiar clang of bells sounding out in front of Kroger Marketplace, the two Walmarts, Hobby Lobby, Rural King and Sam’s Club, among others.
The Salvation Army Red Kettles have been a holiday tradition since 1891. This year, it got underway Nov. 16 in Columbus.
Charles Jeffers of Columbus, a returning Salvation Army volunteer, was assigned to the Kroger Marketplace entryway, wearing a Salvation Army hat and encouraging shoppers to drop some change in the red kettle.
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Cindy Duvall graciously complied, adding: “I know him,” smiling at Jeffers. “He’s my all-time favorite bell ringer.”
From individuals to singing groups and even Boy Scout troops, bell ringers for the Salvation Army are spreading out across the city. More ringers are needed.
With about 7,000 hours of bell ringing needing to be covered between now and Dec. 25, Lt. Amy Tompkins — the Salvation Army’s local leader — is working hard to fill every shift for bell ringers at Columbus locations this holiday season.
This year’s goal from the kettles is $125,000, an increase of more than 50 percent from the $79,000 collected last year, which Tompkins described as “a down year.”
Tompkins theorized that many people last year gave food in several food drives that were going on at the same time, and cut back on kettle donations, something she hopes to reverse this year.
“We had huge food drives last year — and this year, we are holding off a bit,” Tompkins said.
In her second Christmas season in Columbus as the local citadel’s leader, Tompkins is encouraging shoppers to remember that any money they donate in a Salvation Army red kettle stays in Columbus for local services, including the agency’s food pantry, utility and rent payment assistance and a meal site.
In addition to the kettle proceeds, the Salvation Army has also started a local campaign reaching out to local businesses, asking them for a $1,000 donation pledge during the holiday season.
About 48 businesses were contacted and nine have agreed so far, Tomkins said. The Salvation Army will continue to look for more corporate support as the campaign continues, she said.
Jim Johnson and James Sallee rang bells at the east-side Walmart on Friday, each with a similar technique of interaction with shoppers. Johnson, who uses a wheelchair and is in his third year as a bell ringer, was wishing people a Merry Christmas as they left the store.
Sallee, who said he sometimes plays guitar during his bell-ringing shift, asked “How you-all doing today?”
Such is the banter between bell ringers and potential donors.
“I guess I just enjoy doing this,” Sallee said. “I just like seeing people being happy and smiling.”
When a family with a group of children stopped for the kids to place coins in the kettle, Sallee was quick to offer the bell to Wade Petro of Columbus, who enthusiastically rang away as his siblings tossed in change.
“He’s a good bell ringer. We need to keep him around,” Sallee said.
Bell ringers have a wide variety of ways to encourage shoppers to donate, including wearing Santa hats, dressing up as Santa or as one of Santa’s elves.
But Tompkins said one sure-fire way to bring in significant donations is to bring a younger child along to help with the bell ringing.
“Hobby Lobby can sometimes be a tough spot for the bell ringers. Last year at one point it wasn’t producing a lot,” Tompkins said. “So one of our ‘Mom’ bell ringers brought her 8-year-old daughter with her, and they had $277 in four hours,” she said.
When people see those little kids, they can’t resist, Tompkins said. “There were some people, they gave on the way in the store, and then they gave again when they were walking out,” she said.
The Salvation Army is depending on such levels of generosity to hit its $125,000 goal.
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The Salvation Army is looking for bell ringers to help on this year’s Christmas campaign, which hopes to raise $125,000 for local support services, including providing food, utility and rent assistance and more for the underprivileged in Bartholomew County. If you would like to volunteer, go to registertoring.com and sign up.
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Salvation Army kettles can be found at 10 locations in Columbus – Big Lots, Hobby Lobby and Kroger Marketplace, all off U.S. 31; the east side and west side Walmart stores; Sam’s Club, also on the west side; and four Circle K locations – 1644 Central Ave., 1720 N. National Road, 4005 25th St. and 2415 W. Jonathan Moore Pike. Hours with bell ringers vary.
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