Friday’s below-freezing temperatures didn’t dim the enthusiasm of bell ringers from Poplar Bluff School District as, $1 at a time, they helped raise money that will help neighbors in need year-round.
“We understand there are a lot of people in our community in need,” said Dr. Aaron Cornman, Poplar Bluff schools superintendent, wearing a Santa hat and heavy winter gear to man the pharmacy door at Walmart Supercenter. “It’s important to us to ring the bell and encourage others to focus on those in need this Christmas season.”
The project is a long-standing tradition for Poplar Bluff schools, with staff from Eugene Field, Early Childhood and other campuses helping throughout the day.
The annual Salvation Army bell ringing campaign kicked off Nov. 29, and more hands are needed to pick up the bells for the annual red kettle drive. Organizers know the more bell ringers they have, the more retail doors they can staff. And that means more money.
These funds provide a safety net for families who may need one-time assistance with rent or utilities, a water line repair, pest control or a car repair. Those involved in the effort know it can prevent an eviction notice when life throws an unexpected hardship, like the loss of a job, on families who are already struggling.
“Every year, I’m always surprised by the generosity people have,” said Charles Kinsey, assistant Poplar Bluff superintendent, who has volunteered for more than a decade and also rings with his wife and children. “Even during difficult times like the pandemic, people always find a way to give.”
The Salvation Army bell ringing project was taken over in 2023 by the South Center Missouri Community Action Agency. The kettle campaign raised more than $33,500 in 2023. Volunteers helped staff locations at the grocery and pharmacy doors at Walmart Supercenter, as well as occasional placement at Walmart Neighborhood Market.
SCMCAA would like to place bell ringers at all three doors again this year, as well as Hobby Lobby and other locations, if there are enough volunteers, said Ann Smith, executive director of South Central Missouri Community Action Agency.
It took 600 volunteers to fill the 2023 slots, Smith explained. SCMCAA would love to double the number of volunteers this year to host more doors.
Bell ringing will continue from now through Christmas Eve.
By taking over the Salvation Army project, SCMCAA and the agencies it works with have been better able to fill gaps in the community, Smith shared. Many times, workers help families who need additional services but didn’t have a funding mechanism to provide assistance. The Salvation Army funds meet that need.
“It has allowed us to help folks in a way we hadn’t before,” Smith said.
Each individual or family helped comes to the Salvation Army in Butler County through a referring agency and worker, such as SCMCAA, FCC, Poplar Bluff Housing Authority, Haven House or Recycling Grace, among others.
In 2023, the following needs were met: $2,808, utility costs; $12,061, preventing homelessness; $24,447, emergency needs including groceries, hygiene supplies and clothing. A final special project in September benefited children in the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority by providing socks and underwear for a back-to-school project.
To volunteer, contact organizers at 573-714-4562 or kjones@scmcaa.org.
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