By Patricia Jones
Alliance Community Task Force: Creating Opportunity
and Jessica Manion
BBC Salvation Army Kettle Coordinator
It’s that time of year when we will begin seeing those red kettles and Salvation Army bell ringers at area stores. The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign for Box Butte County started November 25 and runs through December 24. It’s our chance to make the holidays brighter for someone in need.
Red kettle donations stay local – directly impacting the lives of our neighbors by helping them in their time of need. The funds raised by Salvation Army bell ringers make a year-round impact to our community through grocery, prescription, utility, motel, and medical gas voucher assistance, as well as emergency services and stranded motorist assistance. Funds serve residents of Box Butte County and are distributed by Northwest Community Action Partnership.
Volunteers are needed to be Salvation Army bell ringers in both Alliance and Hemingford. Volunteers can sign up online at RegisterToRing.com [registertoring.com]or by calling Angie Flesner at the Senior Center at 308-762-1293 or Jessica Manion at FNBO 308-763-2167.
Volunteers should greet people and be gracious, even with those who choose not to give. Don’t ask people to put money in the kettle; just make it easy for them to do so!
Alliance will have four kettle locations – Grocery Kart, Bomgaars, Carter’s Home, Hardware & Appliance, and Safeway. Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday from 4-6 pm and Saturday from 11-1 pm, 1-3 pm, and 3-5 pm.
In Hemingford, the Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to ring bells at Raben’s Market on Friday from 3-5 pm and Saturday from 11-1 pm.
There will also be miniature Red Counter Kettles that will be located at Starbucks, Grocery Kart Liquor, and Kloch’s Liquor in Alliance; Raben’s Liquor and Valor General Store in Hemingford.
Donors can also give by dropping off a donation payable to The Salvation Army at FNBO in Alliance or they can donate online at RegisterToRing.com [registertoring.com] by clicking Donate Now. Just like red kettle donations, these donations stay local.
“The ringing of The Salvation Army bell is not just a sound of a bell. It’s the sound of curing hunger, the sound of Christmas to a child in need, the sound of a safe place for our neighbors to sleep. It is the sound of help, hope, and comfort to our neighbors when they need it most during the holidays and beyond.” -The Salvation Army.
As you are out and about in December, remember to drop those coins and bills in the red kettles. Thank you for supporting the Salvation Army this holiday season. The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign continues to be a part of our Christmas traditions in Box Butte County, and your donations are appreciated by so many!