It's that time of year again! The RED KETTLE time of year, that is...
The famous red kettles and those who staunchly volunteer to crew them every year, are out in force this season, collecting funds for those who are in need and for whom said collected funds mean SO much, so far as having a Christmas is concerned.
Representatives and friends of the Salvation Army said recently, in an October 2024 letter sent out to the members of Shelby Masonic Lodge #744, that their Red Kettle Campaign is requesting help this year.
Their stated goal is to raise $100,000 for Cleveland and Rutherford County families in order to "...make Christmas possible for over 200 families."
Recently, Shelby's Jack Weller, who describes himself as a "recovering cancer patient who volunteered to help others", wrote in a letter he sent to various organizations, about what sort of help was needed and how to go about signing up for said help.
Mr. Weller not-ed bell ringers were needed "...on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the entrances to the Shelby WalMart" and various locations the Salvation Army lists, starting Nov. 22, and running on through Dec. 21.
Weller stated organizations, such as Rotary Clubs, Masonic Lodges, The Boys and Girls Club, and various churches, have been asked, as have other Cleveland County organizations, to volunteer to help man the ubiquitous red kettles.
Cleveland County College grad Brooke Porter, one of the volunteers involved with the drive this year, noted they still had "...28 slots (for bell ringing volunteers) still available," adding she felt the hardest slots and spots to fill will be those times and dates nearest to Christmas.
Weller, who said he has been helping with the fund raising for these groups for "more than 30 years," said it is "always wonderful" to see how quickly folks step up to help with this bell-ringing ministry.
Weller praised all those who have stepped up to help with this year's bell ringing - from the Gardner Webb University cheerleaders, to the afore-mentioned Masonic Lodge members to, as he termed it, "...just about everyone who has stepped up in the past, and still wants to 'help out and be a part...'"
This year's campaign kicked off, noted Weller, on Nov. 18 at the Hobby Lobby in Shelby, adding that bell-ringers will then be at the entrances of WalMart afterwards. It was noted in the letter from Mr. Weller that "...volunteers will ring the bell each weekend through Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m." They hope to exceed last year's goal (of $100,000) by, as he stated in the letter, "15 percent, or more!"
Weller noted, in his letter, it is their goal to "spread out the work (of the funds collecting) to other organizations," adding he and others are always grateful for all the help they get from students and all those who step up to help them out.
For more information or if you have further questions on being a bell ringer, Weller noted you could email him at wsweller@aol.com, or call him at (704) 473-5282. It was also noted by Mr. Weller that folks wishing to volunteer as bell ringers can contact Sgt. Joe Rodgers, of the Salvation Army, at (864) 710-9730, to check to see which slots are still open.