MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown area Salvation Army is out around town to encourage donations supporting the community.
Volunteers will be placed at the front of area grocery stores and big box stores around the Morgantown area from Monday through Christmas Eve as they try to garner donations as part of the well-known Red Kettle Campaign. Salvation Army Captain Dennis Smith advises shoppers who may be looking to buy a last-minute gift or some groceries to keep an ear out for the bell ringers who will be out at store entrances rain or shine.
“We’ve had quite a number of people who have gone out and in rang for us,” said Smith. “And I’m just kind of left speechless in their generosity,” he said.
Smith mentioned that Red Kettle bell ringers will be located in the Suncrest Town Center, the University Town Center, the Grafton Walmart, and the Westridge Business Development in Granville. This has included several businesses that have partnered with the Salvation Army for several decades. According to Smith, Red Kettle bell ringers have been working nonstop over the past several weeks, aiming to get donations that are used directly in the community.
“In Morgantown, we’ve had (people at) Walmart, Bass Pro Shops, Kroger, Price Cutter, and we did a couple of days out at Hobby Lobby,” said Smith on where Red Kettle bell ringers have been posted ahead of Christmas.
According to Smith, the Salvation Army has yet to reach its goal of just over $7 million in national donations that was set for the Red Kettle campaign. In North Central West Virginia, bell ringers have not only been posted up within the Morgantown area but also in Preston County and in parts of Marion County. Ringers will be at the locations from late in the morning until the sun goes down.
“You will see them at Bass Pro Shops, you’ll see them at Walmart, you’ll see them at Food Lion in Fairmont,” said Smith. “Typically our bell ringers will ring from ten in the morning until six or seven in the afternoon,” he said.
Volunteers who will take part in the Red Kettle Campaign will be at each of the participating locations until the stores close on Christmas Eve. The Salvation Army will host a free dinner at Hazel’s House of Hope on Scott Avenue, where they will partner with the Grace Shelter and serve food inside the Hope Cafe throughout the afternoon on Christmas Day. With proceeds from the Red Kettle campaign directly used for such services and the traditional mystery donor yet to have contributed to the cause, Smith and the rest of the Salvation Army volunteers are ready to go out and ring bells for the holidays.
“We’re not where we were last year, and we just gotta keep on pushing to try and get where we can, in the name of our community,” said Smith.