Bell ringers needed

Silver bells will soon be ringing in Holyoke, and you can be a part of it!

The Salvation Army red kettle campaign is kicking off in Holyoke with bell ringing time slots beginning Friday, Dec. 4, outside the doors of Holyoke Marketplace. The kettle will be set up there through Wednesday, Dec. 23, except Monday, Dec. 7, when it will move to the Lions Club Mini Park during Country Christmas.

Bell ringers can sign up for one-hour slots Monday-Friday from 4-7 p.m. or two-hour slots Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sunday from noon-2 p.m.

Two volunteers are needed for each shift, and at least one should be 18 years or older.

To sign up, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C45AAAE2CA7F58-2020.

The Salvation Army has COVID-19 protocols in place to keep both ringers and donors safe this holiday season.

On the bell-ringing side, it’s really as simple as it sounds: sign up, show up, ring the bell and watch as people put donations into the kettle. On the donor side, it’s equally simple: on your way past a kettle, just put a donation in the bucket — any amount will help.

There are a couple of other ways to make donations. Donors can use GooglePay and ApplePay on their smartphones by scanning a QR code on the kettle. Another way to give online is by visiting http://salarmy.us/IMRescueChristmasWeb.

Donations to Holyoke’s red kettle campaign will stay in Phillips County with the local Salvation Army service extension unit. Funds are used year-round to help out residents as well as travelers who are experiencing hardships.

 For questions, call Ann McConnell at 970-580-7999.