MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign is popping up at locations across the community, and this year your help is needed more than ever.
Morgantown Salvation Army Commander Cpt. Dennis Smith said they are looking for volunteers to help ring the bell in front of the familiar red kettles across the community. The Morgantown Salvation Army Corps have red kettles at retailers in Morgantown, Fairmont, Westover and Mannington.
“We’re off to a slow start,” Smith said. “But, we’re already at the Bass Pro Shops, Hobby Lobby, and the Walmart off exit 1, and you’ll start seeing more of us as we hire more people and as we get more people to volunteer.”
Need has increased this year due to inflation, the federal government shutdown, and the temporary suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP).
Groups and volunteers can register online for shifts ringing the bell, and there are opportunities for residents to start a virtual campaign. Virtual campaigns can be used by extended families or organizations to show their support for the Salvation Army mission.
“You set yourself up; it’s really easy to volunteer,” Smith said. “You just go to a site called registertoring.com, put in your zip code, and it will take you right to us.”
Online registration is easy, and if you don’t have a computer, you can register by telephone.
“It will show you all of the locations you can ring at,” Smith said. “You can pick a day and time, and it will tell you what’s available and if another volunteer has taken it.”
Smith said ringing the bell provides opportunities to meet and get to know members of the community. Many times people who donate are “returning the favor” they received from the Salvation Army, and often they share those stories.
“We will meet someone who was a recipient of assistance from the Salvation Army, and they will tell us the stories,” Smith said. “I just love those old stories of how the Salvation Army has impacted that family over the years.”
In addition to the website, the Morgantown Salvation Army Corps maintains and updates a Facebook page. Via social media, Smith said they provide updates about their activities and needs.
“We also have our own Facebook page, and we’ll be posting pictures of our volunteers working,” Smith said. “Salvation Army Morgantown is what it’s called on Facebook.”