Published: December 03, 2008 08:41 pm      

Familiar bells, red kettles can help make holidays brighter

“You can’t go very far without hearing a bell.”

Capt. Bob Cornett says The Salvation Army’s annual Kettle Drive is in full swing across southern West Virginia.

For more than 50 years, volunteers and Salvation Army employees have manned the kettles, braving the elements and holiday shopping frenzy and collecting money to help the organization in its efforts to assist the community during the holidays.

Originally, the campaign began as a way to feed the hungry at Thanksgiving.

Since then, the campaign has become much more elaborate with volunteers across the world manning kettles for six to seven weeks, from November until Christmas.

Locally, Cornett says, the campaign will help The Salvation Army generate 25 percent of its annual budget, raising approximately $175,000 in Fayette, Raleigh and Wyoming counties and $50,000 in Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas and Webster.

That money is used at Christmas to help purchase toys and clothing for children and adults who are in need. Also, Cornett says, money raised helps round out The Salvation Army’s budget for the programs and services it offers throughout the year.

Cornett says big donations, while appreciated, are neither expected nor necessary.

“The truth is, 25 to 27 percent of all the money we raise will be in nickels, dimes and quarters,” he said. “Change can change a life.”

Although the importance of the kettle drive is obvious, Cornett says it is often difficult to maintain enough volunteers and workers to man 32 possible kettle locations throughout the region.

“We can have anywhere from 13 (locations manned) to all of them,” he said.

The Salvation Army pays temporary bellringers $7 per hour to man the kettles, and Cornett says volunteers are always welcome.

“One hour of time (volunteered) is equivalent to $40 saved by the Salvation Army,” Cornett said, explaining that one hour of volunteered time would help raise approximately $33 in donations and save $7 in salary.

Applications for bellringers are accepted at The Salvation Army headquarters in Summersville at 521 Main St., in Beckley at 312 S. Fayette St. and in Lewisburg at 150 Maplewood Ave. Anyone with questions about applying or anyone interested in volunteering can also call 304-253-9541.

Cornett says he is thankful to everyone who donates either time or money.

“We just want to say ‘thank you’ to everybody who comes by a kettle and drops something in and to everyone who volunteers,” he said. “We can’t do it without the community.”

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com