Calling all bell ringers

MOSES LAKE - The bell ringers standing outside storefronts with their red kettles appear for a brief period of time each year.

But the money raised from those kettles gets stretched out all year long by The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army's Moses Lake Service Center seeks volunteer bell ringers to maximize the amount of money made from the kettles.

"The kettles are extremely important, because that's one of our major sources of revenue," says Ken Palek, The Salvation Army's Grant County service representative. "That's how we function."

The Salvation Army helps people in Grant County pay for housing, utilities, medications and other emergency costs.

"My goal this year is to have all kettle positions manned by volunteers," says Palek. "Let's say DSHS wants me to ... pay $65 to keep somebody from being thrown out. I need to have that money from the kettles and there's a much better return if you have folks that are from the community volunteering at those stations."

Bell ringing starts Nov. 25 and continues until Christmas Eve, says Palek. There are more than 900 two-hour time slots for bell ringers in Moses Lake alone, he said.

Kettles will be placed in Moses Lake outside Walmart, Safeway, Lep-re-kon Harvest Foods and the Moses Lake post office; in Ephrata outside Walmart and Safeway; and in Royal City outside the Royal City post office, said Palek.

Bell ringers operate Monday through Saturday.

"I need as much volunteer assistance as possible," he said. "The more volunteers we have, the more we are able to retain money to use for the year's work."

Palek especially encourages members of organizations, churches and service organizations to volunteer, he said, adding that he's more than happy to speak at any meeting to explain why bell ringing is so important.

"Sometimes people want to just say, 'Well, I can't do it because I'll get cold,'" says Palek. "We've got folks from the Methodist church - little old ladies that are way older than I am - standing out there for half an hour at a time. Not to insult anybody, but if they can do it, so can you."

To volunteer as a bell ringer or to donate, call The Salvation Army at 509-766-5875 or Palek at 509-989-6040.