Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- The Salvation Army in Salt Lake City is facing a shortage of bell ringers.
- Only one-third of locations with the iconic red kettle are staffed with volunteers this year.
- Donations fund programs for families; volunteers can sign up for two-hour shifts.
SALT LAKE CITY — The familiar sound of bells ringing beside bright red kettles has long signaled the Christmas season, encouraging shoppers to pause and give. But this year, the chorus of bells is quieter, as the Salvation Army faces a shortage of volunteer bell ringers.
This year, only a third of Salvation Army kettle locations are staffed with volunteers, leaving many bells silent across the state, according to organizers.
"We actually have 55 locations, but on average our volunteerism is down quite a bit," said Maj. Keith Bottjen, of the Salvation Army. "We only have maybe 15 a day that are even covered, and we're not sure why … but we could really use the help with that."
Since 1891, the Red Kettle Campaign has been a symbol of holiday generosity, funding programs that provide utility assistance, rental help and food for families in need throughout local communities year-round.
"We are a church, and so our mission is to share the gospel," Bottjen said. "We choose to do it by our actions. We feel that people get the message more if they're not starving … and you share the love of Christ that way."
For longtime bell ringers like Willie Johnson, a paid staff member now in his fourth season, the tradition is about more than donations. "One little thing can get everybody in the spirit," he said, smiling beside his kettle.
"Helping somebody is a, you know, a good thing, and the Salvation Army helped me a lot, so giving back … that's the whole plan," Johnson added.
For community members like Marilyn Rockelman, the tradition runs deep. She remembers childhood strolls down a bustling Main Street, the crisp winter air filled with the sound of bells, where her parents stopped to donate and taught her the joy of generosity.
"Every year, I find a bell ringer," Rockelman said. "It's the whole spirit of Christmas and the bell ringer was always part of that."
The Salvation Army hopes that more families, groups and individuals will step forward in the final weeks leading up to Christmas. Bottjen said most donations are collected during Christmas week, and volunteers can sign up for shifts as short as two hours.
"It does something to people's souls that they're just able to get out there and get into the community and just get into the spirit," Bottjen said.
Donations are also being accepted online and through Venmo.
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