Salvation Army needs bell ringers and is hoping a younger crowd can help them
Attention millennials and Gen Zers — you’re needed to help the Salvation Army by ringing bells at grocery stores, malls and other places as part of the organization's annual Red Kettle Christmas fundraiser taking place right now.
This is the 132nd year of the effort, making it the largest and longest-running of its kind. Funds raised last year during the campaign helped over 25 million Americans nationwide.
Presently, the metro Detroit chapter is working to meet its 2022 Red Kettle Christmas Campaign goal of $8.2 million. Officials are worried, though, about making that goal if they do not get enough folks to help ring bells in front of stores and other places.
“We’re in desperate need of bell ringers,” said Maj. Robert "Bob" Mueller, who runs the Salvation Army of Metro Detroit. He was sent to Detroit along with his wife, Maj. Lisa Mueller, general secretary of the Salvation Army Great Lakes Division, to help oversee the regional operation, in June.
As baby boomers retire, not enough younger people are stepping up to fill that void. It’s a missed opportunity, Mueller contends.
“This really is a wonderful way for people and even children to learn about helping others. Some people make it a family tradition,” he said.
To help recruit more young people, the Salvation Army turned to the Jonas Brothers, who, in their 2022 “Love Beyond” promo, talk up the virtues of the organization and the Red Kettle campaign.
Funds raised during the campaign subsidizes two-thirds of the organization's annual operating budget and support programs all year long.
Organizations like the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor are helping as the club picks a day each holiday season and members ring bells at area stores. On Dec. 3, Dave LaMoreaux and Jill Damon, members of Kiwanis, helped ring bells at a Busch’s store in Ann Arbor .
“It’s good to help them, knowing how many people they are helping across the community,” said LaMoreaux, who has volunteered the past five years. Damon has volunteered for three seasons.
Garry Donner, chair of the Human and Spiritual Values Committee of the Ann Arbor club, said, “We have been doing this for 25 years to honor Col. Harold Crowell. He was part of the Salvation Army and also a member of our group.”
Donner said dozens of their club members and family also put in time ringing bells on Dec. 3 and together raised $5,000 that day.
Those wanting to help can go to registertoring.com to sign up for volunteer shifts.
Coins really add up
There are stories about donations beyond U.S. currency that sometimes have ended up in Red Kettles. In metro Detroit, a "secret Santa" dropped a rare 1980 South African gold Krugerrand into a kettle on the east side a few weeks ago — making it the 10th consecutive year that has happened.
That coin, valued at about $1,765 (according to Monex), will help the Salvation Army provide 2.1 million meals, 405,000 nights of shelter, 88,000 holiday toys and gifts for children and seniors in southeast Michigan.
As news of that coin was reported by media, other coins began appearing, including a silver Krugerrand at the Kroger at Eight Mile and Wyoming, a silver Krugerrand at Ferndale Foods in Ferndale, a 1-ounce Gold Liberty coin and two half-ounce Gold Liberty coins at Kroger in Southgate, and a 1-ounce Gold Liberty coin at Greek Island restaurant in Plymouth.
“Generosity breeds generosity,” Bob Mueller said.
View from the Muellers
Bob and Lisa Mueller have been married 38 years and joined the Salvation Army 27 years ago.
The organization operates like a military organization, and as commissioned officers, the couple served in six regions before coming back to Detroit. It's a homecoming as they left 27 years ago after donating their worldly goods before getting commissions. Bob Mueller answered some questions about his experiences. His answers have been edited for brevity.
QUESTION: Talk about the need for bell ringers.
ANSWER: The Salvation Army utilizes both paid bell ringers and volunteers to cover the hundreds of kettle sites and tens of thousands of bell ringing hours. The labor shortage combined with a decline in volunteerism is negatively impacting our Red Kettle campaign. There are more unmanned kettles than ever before. Hence, we’re in desperate need for more volunteer bell ringers.
Q: Tell me about your job and your wife’s.
A: My official title is divisional secretary for Metro Detroit Area Command and I oversee programs and social services for 13 Salvation Army Centers in the tricounty area. I share responsibility for fundraising, public relations, community development. Lisa’s title is general secretary, which means she is second in command of the Great Lakes Division (which covers most of Michigan). She provides oversight to the Harbor Light system, Emergency Disaster Services and legal matters. We previously served in Minneapolis; Roseville, Minnesota; St. Paul, Minnesota; Grand Rapids; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Rochester, Minnesota. The average appointment is three to five years.
Q: You grew up in Detroit — talk about that.
A: My siblings (a younger brother and sister) lived across the street from the Salvation Army Grandale Corps Community Center on Montrose Avenue (near Greenfield and West Chicago) until our mother relinquished custody of us to my father. He then moved us to Livonia, where I met my wife, Lisa. She is a Salvation Army officer kid. She is the youngest of five daughters, who are also all Salvation Army officers.
Q: What's it like being back in Detroit?
A: It’s bittersweet. We’re back home, but our three adult children (and) three grandchildren live in the Twin Cities, so we don’t get to see them very often. On the other hand, we are slowly getting reacquainted with friends and family that we left behind 27 years ago. Some days we feel like we never left Detroit. Other days it’s as if we have never lived here. My role as area commander has afforded me the opportunity to see more of the Detroit metropolitan area in five months than the 30 years that I lived here prior to leaving. After spending the past 11 years in smaller cities, Detroit has been overwhelming in its size, speed, and diversity. It’s also changed. The old neighborhood is not the same. While the house I lived in still stands, many of the neighbor’s homes are now gone. And my elementary school has shuttered its doors. But the Salvation Army still has a presence there and continues to serve our neighbors in need.
Q: What’s the Salvation Army life like?
A: I often say, “Every day is an adventure in the Salvation Army.” No two days are the same. One moment I could be serving meals to the homeless living on the street, and the next moment be in the office of a president of a major corporation. The Salvation Army uniform takes you places you never dreamed you would ever go. We’re on call 24/7, 365 days a year. There’s no greater reward than doing the most good for people in the most need.
Q: Anything else to mention?
A: I’m glad to be back in the big “D” to support my home sports teams, especially the Red Wings. I named my son after Steve Yzerman and when the Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997, we named our new dog Stanley Pup!”
Contact Carol Cain: 248-355-7126 or clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of “Michigan Matters,” which airs 8 a.m. Sundays on CBS 62. See Bill Ford, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Google CFO Ruth Porat on this Sunday’s show.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Salvation Army needs bell ringers and is hoping for young volunteers
