Volunteers Needed to Make A Happy Christmas

SAN BERNARDINO>> On Friday November 18, The Salvation Army Corps of San Bernardino begins its annual “Red Kettle” Bell Ringing Campaign. Bell Ringers at the familiar Red Kettles seek donations from local residents to help local families in need during this holiday season. “Our goal is to raise $150,000 this year to help families have a Happy Christmas and to house the homeless, feed the hungry and provide hope to the hopeless. This is our major fundraiser for the year. Last year, we raised about $100,000 during the holiday season,” said Major Daniel Henderson. "We are looking for volunteers to Ring the Bells and raise money for The Salvation Army to help the needy this holiday season. When volunteers ‘Ring the Bells’ it increases the amount of money The Salvation Army has to help people in need.” The Salvation Army is inviting local colleges, universities, social clubs, service groups, elected officials, singers, bands, local actors, clubs and companies to Ring the Bells at local retail stores. President Tomas Morales of California State University, San Bernardino and President Matthew Madrid of The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire are asking their students, staff and faculty to join the effort to Ring the Bells and help our local people in need. “Assemblymember Cheryl Brown along with San Bernardino City Council Member John Valdivia are the first elected officials who have volunteered to Ring the Bells this holiday season,” Henderson said. Stater Bros. Markets, Under Armour and Target are also providing volunteers. Festively-dressed volunteers ringing bells will be deployed to retail outlets in San Bernardino, Grand Terrace, Highland, Colton, Rialto and Bloomington. “Some sing, some dance, some play instruments and some just use their wonderful smiles and the familiar silver bells to attract donations,” Henderson said. The tradition of The Salvation Army “Kettle” during the Christmas Holidays was started in 1891 in San Francisco, by Captain Joseph McFee, in an effort to collect enough money to provide a free Christmas dinner to the poor. Now the tradition has spread worldwide and it has been in San Bernardino since its early years. Donations collected during the Christmas kettle campaign in San Bernardino are used to provide food baskets and other essential during the Christmas season. Donations are also used by The Salvation Army throughout the year to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; children’s afterschool and summer camp programs, assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army volunteers will Ring the Bells at local locations including: Stater Bros. Markets, Walmart, Inland Center Mall, JC Penneys, Walgreens, Macy’s, Sam’s Club, CVS Pharmacy, Big Lots! and Ralphs. The Salvation Army also needs donations of toys for children’s Christmas gifts, along with turkeys, hams, stuffing, canned goods, vegetables, pies, cakes and other food for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and food baskets. “We always need food donations,” Henderson said. “We serve meals to about 300 people a day at our Homeless Shelter, Transitional Living Center, Path to Prosperity Program and free meals every day at 4:45, so food goes fast. We also need donations for our annual free Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, served every year since 1887.” To volunteer, or if companies who want to donate the staffing of a location to Ring the Bells and help the needy this holiday season, call Lt. Cathie McCulley at The San Bernardino Salvation Army at (909) 888-1336.