Wanted: Salvation Army Bell Ringers and Your Cash

The needs of Royal Oak residents and nearby communities are growing, but donations to The Salvation Army's annual Red Kettle Campaign are not.

Earlier this week, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit reported it is still millions of dollars away from reaching its 2010 fundraising goal and urged local residents and businesses to support its mission to provide vital services such as food and shelter.

"We are currently trending $400,000 less than this time last year. If we don't raise these crucial $7.8 million in funds, we're in danger of losing vital programs," Major John Turner, general secretary for The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit, said Monday. "With a battered economy in Metro Detroit, coupled with a year-over-year increase in the demand for basic human services at our 40 centers of service, we have past donors coming through our doors requesting help every week."

In Royal Oak, donations are up a bit from last year, said Major Monty Wandling of the , based at 3015 N. Main St. "But last year we didn't make our goal. We have some catching up to do."

Red kettles began popping up and the familiar bells began ringing around town Nov. 12 and the campaign runs through Jan. 31.

With increasing demand for services and dwindling resources, the Royal Oak Corps has reduced its staff and hours to cut costs in an effort to meet needs, Wandling said. "We are at a bare bones staff now so we can be available when needed," he said.

The serves about 500 people at Thanksgiving time and about 1,000 at Christmas, but basic everyday assistance requests continue to grow, Wandling said. Last month, it helped about 260 households, up from an average of about 230 in recent months.

"We want to try to help everyone," he said. "I guess we'll help the same number but with just a little less" if they don't meet their goal.

Wandling pointed out that many people think the Red Kettle campaign serves just Christmas time services. "Those funds we raise at Christmas are really for programs throughout the year," he said.

Volunteering with bell ringing outside local businesses and community areas is very helpful, the Royal Oak major said. "Bell ringers collect an average of about $50 an hour, so if someone spends half a Saturday or a club or group of friends does it from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., it can make a huge, huge difference," Wandling said.

How to help

To sign up for a bell ringer shift, go to http://www.registertoring.com/salmich/.
If dropping some cash or coins into the red kettles isn't your thing, The Salvation Army makes it easy to donate in other ways.:

• Set up an online Red Kettle for donations at www.onlineredkettle.org.
• Donate online at www.salmich.org.
• Call 877-725-6424.
• Text "give" to 80888 to donate $10 via your cell phone service.