Salvation Army of Amarillo asks the community to Love Beyond and volunteer this holiday season

The Salvation Army of Amarillo is seeking community help with the upcoming holiday season approaching, urging volunteers to lend some time to help make their mission a success.

This year, the Salvation Army is asking the community to "Love Beyond" meaning love beyond inflation and love beyond the holiday to help those in need.

"We rely heavily on volunteers to ring those bells for our campaign, help organize and especially to distribute our Angel Tree Gifts. Any way that an individual, company or group would like to help means everything to us and is always accepted," said Salvation Army of Amarillo Major Tex Ellis.

According to the Major, the Salvation Army is now asking for volunteers for the upcoming Red Kettle Campaign to serve as bell ringers. Major Ellis said they are hoping to recruit as many volunteers as possible for this year's 25 locations. The challenge will begin on Nov. 15 and last through Dec. 24. Bell ringers will be visible throughout Amarillo every day of the week except Sundays. During the effort, the community can donate to the campaign to help those in need.

The Red Kettle Campaign, now the oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind in the United States, helps raise money for those in need during the holiday season and throughout the year. The campaign provided toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and maintains countless social service programs each year. According to Ellis, the funds raised during this time of year with this campaign amounts to 25% pf their annual budget.

For those who would like to contribute to the campaign but do not carry cash, each kettle now has a QR code on display where individuals can scan and make donations online, or acquire the Salvation Army's address to mail a money order.

"We have many options for ways that people can donate if they want to, including in person, online or by mail. We understand that not everyone carries cash anymore but still want to make it accessible to the people who want and are willing to help," said Ellis.

The Salvation Army also offers paid positions for the bell ringers for those seeking additional assistance during the holidays.

In addition to the need for bell ringers the organization is also seeking individuals willing to adopt for their 2022 Angel Tree. The Angel Tree includes children up to the age of 12 in need throughout the Panhandle.

On each Angel Tag the child's gender, clothing size, general needs, and wants are listed on the tag. Donors have the option to choose items from the list to donate to the child this Christmas. According to the Major, there are approximately 300 families in the 2022 Angel Tree including 700 children. After all the gift donations have been collected the gifts will then be distributed by the Salvation Army volunteers.

"It has been tough gaining volunteers over the past two years considering the pandemic and we help to get back to some normalcy and gain some community involvement with volunteers. We just completed our sign up process for the angels and are looking towards the community's involvement to give those children a good holiday season," said Ellis.

Individuals can adopt an angel at the Angel Tree located in Westgate Mall. The non-profit is also working to create additional trees located in area Walmart's which will be determined and announced at a later date.

Ellis said these needs for monetary donations and volunteers are a part of their "Love Beyond" campaign a message created in light world events and peoples needs this holiday season.

The Salvation Army said in a news release: "The past couple of years have been some of the hardest we’ve faced as a nation. As we continue to struggle through the pandemic, civil unrest, and natural disasters that uproot families, we find courage and strength in love. Please join our effort to put love above all else and show families in need that love exists beyond the most difficult situations"

For more information about how to donate or volunteer visit the Salvation Army of Amarillo online at https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/amarillo/home

To register as a bell ringer register online at https://www.registertoring.com/

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Salvation Army of Amarillo seeks volunteers for the holiday season