T-R FILE PHOTO In 2018, sisters Hannah Girsch and Hailey Girsch, volunteered to ring the bells for the Salvation Army of Marshalltown Red Kettle campaign. The Salvation Army is seeking more volunteers to ring bells at the Red Kettles during the 2024 season, which ends Dec. 24.

The outdoors might not have white snow on the ground just yet, but another familiar color and item has returned to Marshalltown — the Red Kettle.

Ringers for the Salvation Army of Marshalltown began the season on Friday, and will continue through Dec. 24. Envoy John Hofer said the Kettles will be out from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Walmart, HyVee, Fareway, Theissen’s and Hobby Lobby, and is hoping more people will volunteer to ring the bells.

“I could always use more,” he said.

Compared to the same time in 2023, there are just a few more volunteer bell ringers this year. However, Hofer said it is early in the season and word is still getting out. He hopes more people will sign up.

“There were a lot of opportunities which were missed last year,” Hofer said.

Some volunteers like to stand out to attract more donations, and Hofer had some tips on how to do that in Marshalltown:

• Bring your family. Family groups catch more attention;

• Wear Christmas sweaters or bring some lights which most volunteers already do;

• Show people you are full of the Christmas spirit. He recalled one family who rang the bells last year for a couple hours. They had Christmas paraphernalia and sang carols, which Hofer said helped accent the moment. He said they did a fantastic job as when people passed by, they felt that Christmas spirit, which always translates well.

“I encourage people to volunteer at the Kettles,” Hofer said. “Look at it this way, a person willing to stand in the cold and icky weather helps keep a family from getting cold. If there is a mom and child who are homeless, spending the night in their car, this will help them not go through that.”

The Kettle Goal set for 2024 is $55,000, which is down from last year’s $60,000. Hofer said that is due to the fact fewer people carry cash nowadays. However, the total holiday fundraising goal has been raised from $173,000 in 2023 to this year’s $193,000.

“We need more to operate throughout the year,” he said.

The funds will help pay for the Salvation Army facility and staff costs, as well as for Christmas assistance. Hofer said he will use the money to buy food items for the food boxes and perhaps some toys for kids in need. The money can also pay for children to attend summer camps.

“It’s for a little bit of everything that we do,” he said. “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and supplies what we need year-round.”

Hofer is not expecting the familiar gold bar to be dropped in a Kettle again, as it has been a couple years since one was given. However, last year the Salvation Army did receive a gold and diamond pendant, which will be used in a fundraiser this spring.

Besides the Kettles, the Angel Trees will be found throughout Marshalltown, such as HyVee and Planet Fitness. Ornaments bearing the names of children and their desired and needed items for Christmas gifts are hung on Christmas tree branches. People are free to take an ornament and purchase the items. Hofer said collection barrels will be taken to the trees today.

“This is important, because I just finished the Christmas sign-up for the trees,” he said. “Last year, I had 420 angels. This year, it is close to 500. So, there are significantly more people.”

Due to the greater number of “angels,” Hofer said he could use a few more Angel Tree locations. He was not precisely sure as to the cause of the increase.

“We had a large amount of Hispanic families sign up,” Hofer said. “I don’t know if they need more, or if just more of the whole population is in higher need. It also could have something to do with the economy.”

TO VOLUNTEER:

Go to registertoring.com, enter Marshalltown’s zip code and Hofer said the website will provide a list of locations and available ring times. Once a person clicks on a date and time for the desired location, he or she can enter information to reserve the spot.

“That is the easiest way,” he said.

Hofer said people can also call the “Kettle Hotline” at 641-219-1280 which will go to voicemail. If a person or group of people wants a specific date and time, he said he will try his best to make it happen.

“I hope people are encouraged to sign up and help us ring a little bit,” Hofer said.

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.