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Salvation Army kicks off annual bell-ringing campaign

CENTRAL U.P. -- The Salvation Army of Alger, Baraga and Marquette counties kicked off its annual bell-ringing campaign on Thursday, with a goal of raising $360,000 this holiday season to help those in need.

"This is the 134th Christmas that the Salvation Army is helping assist the U.P. communities," said Bill Brutto, head administrator for the Salvation Army of Alger, Baraga and Marquette counties. "Think about 134 years of an organization being able to continue to have an impact and continue to help those in need."

The Salvation Army's red kettle tradition began all the way back in 1891 in San Francisco, California, when a Christmas dinner was funded by putting a soup kettle out on the docks for donations.

"Now, across the country, millions of people will help us ring our kettle throughout the country," said Brutto. "And just last year, 2.5 million people nationwide received Christmas assistance."

In the North-Central U.P. last year, 800 kids received Christmas presents from the Salvation Army, and even more people received food assistance. This year, the Salvation Army is looking to increase that number to 900 kids receiving Christmas presents with help from the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army doesn't just assist families during Christmas time -- each week during the school year, 240 students in Marquette and Alger Counties receive food backpacks from the Salvation Army, and 32,500 hot meals are served each year at the Marquette office. In addition to those meals, the Salvation Army provides dinner for Room at the Inn Monday-Friday, and also serves as an overflow shelter for Room at the Inn during the winter months. Throughout the year they also provide utility assistance, clothing assistance and food assistance.

"We want to continue to help our fellow neighbor," said Brutto. "What child wants to wake up on Christmas morning and not have that opportunity to have gifts underneath a tree, or a hot meal at their table?

"And we want to be able to continue to maybe relieve some of the stress in families and continue to just be a small part of the Christmas joy throughout the season."

"We have kettles in all three counties, and all the funds stay in those counties," said Brutto. "We're going to continue to try to make as much of an impact that we possibly can ... $25 goes a long way. For a five year old child to donate their piggy bank to us, that goes a long way. We can essentially break down one of our meals to make it as cheap as $1 per meal that we're giving away. So a dollar goes a long way, and there is a great impact."

The campaign was kicked-off by a donation of over $7,000 from Fox Motors.

"We've partnered with Salvation Army for a few years now," said Luke Hubbard, director of operations for Fox Motors U.P. Region. "We do bell ringing every year; we pay our team to go out in the community and volunteer. We've also done smaller donations throughout the years."

When Hubbard found out that the Salvation Army was helping 800+ kids each year get toys for Christmas, though, he decided to give even more.

"I looked at what I had left this month to give away," said Hubbard. "Hopefully that's enough to kick-start and get things going."

In addition to bell-ringing, this year the Salvation Army is participating in a 5 days of giving event during Thanksgiving weekend. Day 1 is on Thanksgiving, and emphasizes virtual gift-giving. Black Friday encourages people to visit Salvation Army's Angel Tree at Walmart in Marquette and help provide gifts for children through the Christmas Toy Shop. On Small Business Saturday, Salvation Army is dropping kettles at local businesses, and on Cyber Monday they are once again emphasizing online donations both in the form of cash and in the form of shopping their Walmart gift registry. Finally, on Giving Tuesday, Eagle Mine will match all kettle donations up to $2,500.

Online donations can be made at https://satruck.org/Donate/Choose?zip=49855, and the Salvation Army Walmart gift registry is available at walmart.com/registry/RR/4634cfhttps://satruck.org/Donate/Choose?zip=49855c2-a53b-42e7-b9eb-41822d531cd9.

The Salvation Army is still looking for bell-ringers as well; each kettle can make about $100-$150 per hour. Kettles will be located intermittently in Jubilee in Ishpeming; Super One in Negaunee; Super One, Tadych's, Walmart and Walgreens in Marquette; Pat's Foods in Munising; Pat's Foods in L'Anse and Larry's in Baraga, as well as at special events such as the TV6 Craft Show. Those interested in volunteering can visit https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/volunteer/.

Anyone who needs Christmas assistance can go to SAAngelTree.org.

"We have a generous community," said Brutto. "…We need to continue to get that community support, and I have all the faith in the world that that will happen."

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.