The bells you hear ringing as you exit your car at Dave’s County Market or Walmart are reminders that the Red Kettle Campaign is up and running again in Merrill!
Last year’s campaign was a year of many firsts:
It was the first year a ringer rang the bell for over 60 hours (not consecutively!). Ward Gremler put in over 60 hours with Don MacSwain coming in second with 56 hours.
It was the first year that Church Mutual supplied ringing volunteers from throughout the whole company during work hours.
It was the first year we had a diamond ring donated at a kettle.
It was the first year we topped $30,000 in donations – $10,942 more than the previous year.
In the past, individuals and organizations in Merrill have embraced the Red Kettle Campaign. The yearly campaign uses the funds raised to help Merrill residents with emergency lodging, evictions, and assists residents with gas/electricity shut offs, and medical/emergency transportation issues. Individuals can support the annual campaign which helps Merrill’s neediest residents by ringing a bell, donating at the kettle, or sending a check to Salvation Army of Merrill, PO Box 614, Merrill WI, 54452).
Organizations are instrumental in making the campaign a success. This year the churches who are participating are St. Stephens United Church of Christ, Christ Methodist Church, Bible Presbyterian, First Presbyterian, Merrill Bible Church, New Testament Church, Calvery Lutheran, Journey Church, St. John Church and Hillside Fellowship. Many different Boy Scouts troops also ring as a group, including Troop 599 who ring a whole day at Dave’s County Market. Another group instrumental in our ringing success is The Saint Vinny Ringers, composed of volunteers from St. Vincent DePaul.
To volunteer to ring, please contact Sharon Anderson by phone 715-536-9166, or (715) 921-0673, email [email protected], or message us on our facebook page Salvation Army of Merrill.