The holidays are upon us, and it is time again for Custer County to show its community spirit.
Starting Friday, November 21, the Salvation Army Red Kettle and Bell Ringers will start showing up at area locations, soliciting donations for the Custer County Salvation Army.
Not only is this an opportunity to donate to a cause that keeps 90% of its funds local, but also to be a bell ringer yourself. Volunteers are being actively solicited to be a bell ringer for the Salvation Army Red Kettle drive.
Individuals, families, groups and organizations are all welcome and encouraged to volunteer as bell ringers.
According to Salvation Army Red Kettle Coordinator Phil Sloat, over $40,000 was donated across Custer County last year.
“This is a county-wide organization,” said Sloat, “and we support the schools in Ansley, Anselmo and Merna, we support Callaway, Sargent, and Arnold. In all of those areas, we’re supporting food pantries, swimming lessons at swimming pools, backpack programs that provide food to families that need a little help feeding the kids over the weekends, and book fairs.”
Critically, nearly a quarter of the funds used by the Custer County Salvation Army come from the Red Kettle Drive.
“We do really depend on the red kettles to be an additional amount of support that really provides us with the ability to make all of this happen,” said Sloat.
In addition to the Big Red Kettles, other options to donate are available as well. Small Red Kettles will start appearing next to cash registers to collect change. Back from last year, a QR code will be posted with the Kettles allowing for online donations straight from a smart phone.
Kettles are currently planned for Grocery Kart and Tractor Supply in Broken Bow. Red Kettles also will be located at the Sargent Corner Market in Sargent and at Reed’s Food Center in Arnold.
To volunteer to be a bell ringer and help support the Custer County Salvation Army, sign up here on the group’s Google Docs sheet. Links and more information are also available on the Custer County Salvation Army’s Facebook page.
Listen to our full conversation with Phil Sloat here:
