In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Bailey’s daughter says every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.
If that’s the case, there will hopefully be a lot of angels getting their wings this holiday season as it’s time for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign.
Volunteer bell ringers are the difference between an empty kettle and one that raises the funds that sustain the help The Salvation Army provides throughout the year to those in need, according to salvationarmyusa.org.
Members of the Rotary Club, St. Ambrose Catholic Church, several city of Seymour employees and other volunteers took time out of their busy schedules to ring the bells outside Walmart Supercenter in Seymour the past couple of weeks.
Patty Tormoehlen, administrative assistant for the planning and zoning office, and Seymour Police Department dispatcher Jenny Hammond were paired together to ring the bells Monday.
Hammond said it was her first time to volunteer for the Red Kettle Campaign.
“I was manager at a Walmart in Indianapolis a long time ago, and my favorite thing about it was all of the volunteer opportunities,” Hammond said. “I just like to volunteer.”
She said many times, any volunteering she’d like to do takes place at the same time she’s at work, so she can’t participate. She was glad the bell ringing schedule was flexible so she could help Monday afternoon.
Tormoehlen said she has been a volunteer bell ringer before as her office participates every year.
“It’s kind of a tradition, and it’s one way we can help out the community,” Tormoehlen said.
Seymour Rotary Club member Julia Aker was taking a shift to ring the bells, too.
“We usually do our shifts on a Monday,” Aker said. “I’ve been watching for the online signup since August.”
Later that afternoon, Ally Wheeler with the Seymour Parks and Recreation Department rang the bells with Floyd Amburgey, clerk secretarial aide, a notary and wedding officiant at Seymour City Hall.
Amburgey’s birthday was Monday, so he spent part of his special day volunteering for The Salvation Army.
“This is my third year to do this, and it just so happened it fell on my birthday,” he said. “I’m 62 today.”
As for his bell ringing buddy, Wheeler, it was her first time to volunteer for the Red Kettle Campaign. She said it’s something she has wanted to do since she was a little girl.
Sarah Williams of Freetown made a donation in the kettle as she came out of the store.
“I’m having a bad day, and I thought it (donating) might help me feel better,” Williams said.
David Wimmer found a little bit of money in a parking lot downtown and went inside to report it, but there was nothing they could do.
“I felt guilty about having it, so I thought what a better thing to do, since it’s the time of giving, than to donate it,” he said. “That’s what I did, and I know it goes for a good cause.”
Karen Haas, kettle coordinator for Seymour, said the campaign typically begins on Black Friday, but this year with a special arrangement with Walmart, they were allowed to begin a week early on Nov. 19, and it will run through Dec. 24.
“All of the money collected stays local, and the funds are used for rent, mortgage, utilities and prescription assistance for Jackson County households and individuals,” Haas said. “In Jackson County this year, 177 members and 74 households have been served.”
She said funds were administered for The Salvation Army beginning February 2022 and were depleted by Oct. 3.
“A large portion of our funding comes directly from the Red Kettle Campaign with some assistance from grants and additional funding from Glick Philanthropies and Jackson County United Way,” Haas said. “The Red Kettle Campaign brought in $10,400 in 2021, compared to $8,100 in 2020.”
There is no set monetary goal since they don’t know what to expect from year to year. The Salvation Army just aims to help as many Jackson County families as possible, she said.
Local organizations that have already signed up to help ring bells this year include Seymour City Hall, First United Methodist Church of Seymour, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Trinity United Methodist Church of Seymour, St. Ambrose Catholic Church and Cummins Inc.
“To cover the shifts, it will take approximately 150 volunteers, but the more, the merrier,” Haas said. “Shifts are available 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and shifts can be however long you’d like, anywhere from one hour to 10 hours.”
Those who can’t make it out to a red kettle destination can donate by taking or mailing donations to Jackson County Human Services Inc., 1115 E. Oak St., Seymour, IN 47274.
Also, those who stop by one of the red kettles but don’t have any cash with them can use the QR code on The Salvation Army sign display to pay electronically.
“I’d encourage the community to donate and/or volunteer to ring the bells because a great way to honor the true spirit of the holidays is by helping others,” Haas said. “By volunteering to ring the bells, you’re doing just that, and it’s also inspiring to see firsthand how generous the people in our community can be.”
Haas said she wants to extend sincere gratitude to those who have volunteered their time by ringing the bells, either in the past or during this holiday season, and also to those who give so generously at the kettles when they visit Walmart Supercenter, 1600 E. Tipton St., Seymour.
Volunteer bell ringers are still needed this season. Those interested in volunteering can sign up online at registertoring.com, and it’s open to anyone, including individuals, couples, families, organizations, school groups, churches, businesses and industries.
For information, call 812-522-8718.
The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign
Ways to donate:
1. Visit Walmart Supercenter, 1600 E. Tipton St., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday to find bell ringers outside.
2. Donate by taking or mailing donations to Jackson County Human Services Inc., 1115 E. Oak St., Seymour, IN 47274. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday, closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m.
How to volunteer: Sign up to ring the bell at registertoring.com, and it’s open to anyone, including individuals, couples, families, organizations, school groups, churches, businesses and industries.
Information: 812-522-8718
History of Red Kettle Campaign: salvationarmyusa.org/usn/red-kettle-history