SCMCAA seeks bell ringers after lowest year in recent history

Last year marked the lowest fundraising effort the region has seen for the Salvation Army bell ringing campaign in Poplar Bluff, cutting deeply into funds available to help local families with items like rent and utility assistance.

A big part of that came down to a lack of volunteers, changes in the amount of cash Christmas shoppers carry, as well as the increase in online shopping, believes Ann Smith, executive director of the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency.

SCMCAA is taking over the Butler County program this year, after it fell for many years under the leadership of Fellowship General Baptist Church.

This fits in well with the mission of SCMCAA to help families, said Smith. Its mission since community action agencies were created in the 1960s has been to help alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty.

Smith hopes to increase the number of volunteers this year, raising the visibility of the project and the amount of bell ringing hours.

“We’re hoping to have an opportunity to build it back up... It fits in with our mission really well. It gives us another source of funding to help the people in this county,” said Smith.

SCMCAA is working closely with Fellowship, as well is its partner, AmeriCorps, to make the transition.

Bell ringing generated about $19,000 last year, but the organization only had enough volunteers to staff one door at Walmart Supercenter for part of the season, which runs from Black Friday to Christmas Eve.

In past years, bell ringers would be stationed at both Walmart Supercenter doors, as well as Walmart Neighborhood Market and other retailers.

The hope is have at least three sets of bell ringers available from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, explained, Kelli Jones, who is the SCMCAA education manager and now bell ringing coordinator for the Butler County Salvation Army.

About 90 volunteers are needed in total to accomplish this.

The bell ringing campaign has raised as much as $35,000 annually in the past.

Of those funds, 75% is kept in Butler County. The remaining 15% goes to the national Salvation Army, but still comes back in the form of help during disasters, for victims of house fires, and for other services.

SCMCAA will continue to use the 75% that remains with the local chapter to help families in need.

“We’re hoping to do some things that are currently out of our scope of funding,” said Smith. “(Eligibility) is not limited to income eligibility like current grants are.”

Individuals and families will need to be referred for assistance from an agency with which SCMCAA partners with, such as a school district.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Jones at 573-714-4562 or kjones@scmcaa.org.

Individuals can volunteer an hour or more, and companies are also welcome to sign up for a day or part of day, Jones said.