Last year the Duluth Salvation Army paid bell ringers $18,000 during its holiday Red Kettle campaign. That money would have paid for its food shelf program for the year, but a lack of volunteers left the organization with no choice.
This year, "we've got a lot of open spots," said Jill Buchholz, coordinator of the kettle program. The season campaign began Friday, but only one-third of the volunteer positions are filled.
With 17 bell-ringing locations and 6,650 hours to fill, Buchholz is hoping the holiday spirit will snag more volunteers.
The Salvation Army's fundraising goal for this year is $435,000. Last year's goal was $430,000, and $427,000 was raised. Major Mark Welsh said the organization doesn't start to worry until it's about $10,000 short of its goal.
But the kettle campaign raises about 30 percent of the Salvation Army's annual budget, "so it's crucial that we reach that because any monies we are short, we have to look at reducing our actual programs," he said.
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The organization served more than 1,700 families during the holiday season last year, and the campaign helps pay for 18 transitional homes and offsets costs for food and money management programs.
Because the Salvation Army's fiscal year begins Oct. 1, "this is money we rely on through the entire year, especially through our lean months," Buchholz said. "Our waiting room [for the food shelf] has been packed for months," and each week the food shelf stock is depleted.
Welsh said about 170 bell ringers are needed each day, and the kettle drive runs through Dec. 23. The Miller Hill Mall raises the most every year because four kettles are located there. Last year Super One Foods, Wal-Mart and Burning Tree Plaza also ranked high.
"When a volunteer stands [at a site], they make $52 an hour," Welsh said.
The Superior/Douglas County Salvation Army has eight bell-ringing locations and more than 3,000 hours to fill. About a quarter of the 200 to 300 needed volunteers have signed up for bell-ringing slots.
Last holiday season the organization provided 697 Thanksgiving meals and 2,787 Christmas baskets to Douglas County residents. Major Rosemary Matson said the budget goal of $150,000 was met at the last minute, when a news story ran describing the organization's need.
"That was something real special, because we didn't think we would make our goal," she said.
The organization ended up with $156,000 last year, a figure that is this year's new goal. About 65 percent of the annual budget comes from bell ringing. Superior's kettle drive runs through Dec. 24.
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JANA HOLLINGSWORTH is a general assignment reporter. She can be reached Tuesdays through Saturdays at (218) 279-5501 or by e-mail at jhollingsworth@duluthnews.com .
