With Christmas now under two weeks away, the final stretch is upon us, and many of us are scrambling to make those final preparations for the big day. However, for those who may have their shopping well in hand, they may want to consider a different kind of gift this holiday season — the gift of their time. They may even be rewarded for it.

There is a great need for Salvation Army bell ringers this year, said Salvation Army advisory board member Neil Jandron.

Volunteers are needed to ring for shifts, a minimum of two hours, at different locations throughout the county such as in Marquette at Econo Foods, Super One Foods,Walgreens, Walmart and T.J. Maxx, and Super One Foods in Negaunee, Jim’s Jubilee Foods IGA in Ishpeming and more.

“A new program this year that Salvation Army has started in conjunction with my store, Jandrons Fine Jewelry, is called Ring for Bling,” Jandron said. “For any volunteer who rings a minimum of two hours their name goes in the hat for gift certificate drawings.”

Volunteers will be drawn for a $500, a $250 and a $100 gift certificate to Jandrons Fine Jewelry. An entry will be added to the drawing per every two-hour shift an individual volunteers for.

“Try it for a couple of hours, make it a family affair, bring the kids with you and let the kids ring the bell too,” Jandron said. “We have a lot of moms and dads that bring their kids with them, just make it a two-hour family event thinking of somebody else that they can help. The satisfaction that you get out of that is tremendous. I see a lot of it down there and there’s such a need.”

Red Kettle money collected by the Salvation Army helps to fund the organization’s year-round programs such as the lunch program, which feeds 50-80 people a day, he added.

“The Salvation Army does so much for the community and it’s all of Marquette County. All the money stays here, none of it goes out at all, it’s all used for local programming in Marquette County,” he said. “There is a dire, dire need especially in the wintertime for funds and everything that we give out to people and to keep our food truck pantry full all year long instead of just during the canathon.”

Christmas is all about lending a hand to our neighbors who need it. Donating a few hours of your time to the Red Kettle drive would help do just that.

Those interested in volunteering can call Jamie Ray at the Salvation Army Corps Community Center in Marquette at 906-226-2241 or visit registertoring.com and enter your zip code.