Students in need of service hours before the end of the semester have the opportunity to ring in the holiday season while serving the community.

The 2021 Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign is now in full swing. Shoppers will notice the familiar red kettles and hear the bells ringing while out and about at local retailers. The Red Kettle Campaign is a part of the organization’s Christmas campaign. It is also the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.

The campaign plays an important role in the Salvation Army’s mission to serve others.

“This is our biggest campaign of the year and a lot of the money we raise now will go straight to social services, whether that’s for Christmas food boxes or Christmas meals. Then it extends early into next year when we start helping people with rent and utilities,” Matt Schmidt, Salvation Army development director, said.

The Salvation Army is still searching for volunteers to ensure the success of the Christmas Campaign and fundraising efforts.

Individuals who volunteer to ring bells during the holiday season are essential to the success of the organization’s family and social service programs. Without volunteers, donations are less likely.

“Over the many years that the Salvation Army has been ringing bells we have seen that historically if there are no bell ringers, there is no donations,” Jeremy Koren, Salvation Army volunteer coordinator, said.

Bell ringer volunteers have the flexibility of choosing when and where they would like to volunteer. This flexibility makes it simple for students to fit the required service hours into their busy schedules.

The Red Kettle Campaign will run from Nov. 12 to Dec. 24 in both Quincy and Hannibal.

Students who would like to volunteer should visit Registertoring.org.

To have service hours verified after completing your shift, students can contact Jeremy Koren by calling the Quincy Salvation Army Kroc Center.