Salvation Army Challenges Community For 60 Hours of Bell Ringing

With just two weekends remaining before the holiday, the Salvation Army is gearing up to raise close to $12,000 before Christmas.

Jim Irwin with the Salvation Army said he’s looking for volunteers in the county willing to do at least a two-hour shift of bell ringing, after he was inspired by a pastor who rang a Salvation Army bell in front of a store for 60 hours straight. He said he doesn’t want to have a volunteer ring the bell for 60 hours straight, but it would be great to have volunteers team up in shifts to ring for a total of 60 hours.

Bell-ringers have taken up post in front of Wal-Mart, Kroger, and K-Mart in Plymouth since Black Friday, but Irwin emphasized the need for volunteers in every community throughout the county. While there are no requirements to be a bell ringer, Irwin said children should not be left alone and should be accompanied by their parents.

Irwin said they’re on par with last year, as they’ve raised $3500 thus far. He said that at this pace the organization will survive, but they’re hoping to get back to their fundraising success of years prior.