As you get out of your car and head into Elden's Fresh Foods, Cub Foods, Walmart or the Viking Plaza Mall, you will hear the familiar ring-a-ling-linging of the Salvation Army Bell Ringers.
Each year, in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, people from various service organizations, businesses and the community volunteer their time for what has become to be known as the Red Kettle Campaign.
During the 2017 campaign, the kettles in greater Minnesota - which includes Douglas County - brought in $2.5 million. Another $2.6 million was raised through kettle donations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, according to the Salvation Army website.
Dave Schultz of Alexandria, a Salvation Army volunteer who has been involved with the Red Kettle Campaign for about 10 years, said close to 90 percent of all money raised during the campaign stays right here in Douglas County.
The money, he said, is used for short-term emergency purposes for people in need, such as if someone needs groceries or a place to stay overnight.
ADVERTISEMENT
For Schultz, the Salvation Army is an ideal organization to volunteer for because their administrative costs are so low.
"When I retired, I wanted to give back and this is one way," he said. "I like the organization because there's not a lot of overhead and I enjoy ringing the bell."
At the four previously-mentioned locations in Alexandria, bell ringing begins the week before Thanksgiving and ends on Christmas Eve morning. Volunteers are at the locations every day except Sundays.
Bell ringers are always needed, and interested parties are encouraged to call Schultz at 320-219-8619 to sign up. Anyone who would like to donate to the Red Kettle Campaign and was unable to get to one of the four locations can mail a check, payable to the Salvation Army, to: Dave Schultz, ℅ Red Kettle Campaign, 805 Roosevelt St., Alexandria, MN 56308.
Where your dollars go
When you donate money to the Salvation Army throughout Minnesota and North Dakota, 82 cents out of every dollar goes directly to help people in need. Here's a look at some statistics from the Salvation Army for 2017:
• Worship and Service Centers: 26
• Housing/shelter facilities: 51
ADVERTISEMENT
• Food shelves: 24
• Salvation Army Stores: 30
• Hot meals served annually: 447,000
• People receiving groceries: 42,000
• Nights of lodging: 129,000
• Items of clothing given: 137,000
• Christmas toys given: 127,000
• People given disaster assistance: 24,000
ADVERTISEMENT
• Rent and energy assistance cases: 5,000
• Volunteers: 28,500
• Total people served: 340,000