When the weather dips below freezing in Valentine, Nebraska, most of the city’s residents do
their best to stay indoors as much as possible. However, during the last several years, local
community members and organizations have volunteered to stand outside, braving biting winds
and bone-chilling temperatures to ring bells asking for donations. Since the Salvation Army first
began collecting donations in kettles in the late 1800s, the organization has relied on volunteers
to do the bulk of its bell ringing.
The bell ringing season starts each year, around Thanksgiving and runs through Christmas Eve,
when the red kettles are packed away for the season. The Salvation Army is totally reliant on
donations, and volunteers are the difference between an empty kettle and one that raises about
$30 per hour – enough to provide a family with two bags of groceries or shelter an individual for
a night. How is the money used? Money raised by bell-ringers stays local, 90% stays in Cherry
County for community support and only 10% goes toward administration. Valentine’s volunteer
bell-ringers raised over $ 8,000 last year, this money went to the Northwest Community Action
Partnership in Cherry County which serves approximately 96-100 people per month. The bulk of
this is through the food pantry, whose clientele tends to gravitate towards the elderly and retired.
Who can bell ring? Anyone! Again, this year, the Valentine Lions Club is partnering with the
Salvation Army to coordinate the 2024 bell-ringing campaign in Valentine. We are looking for
individuals, businesses, organizations, or community groups that would be willing to assist as
this year’s bell-ringers. In Valentine, the bell-ringers can ring any day, except Sundays, or any
time that area businesses are open during the collection season; volunteers are asked to commit
one to two hours at a time.
The 2024 bell-ringing campaign is now scheduling volunteers, to reach our $5,000 goal! If you,
your family, or your group would like to help with this year’s campaign, please contact
Valentine Lions Club Member: Wendy Murphy 307-286-6144 to get on the schedule. Your time
could make the difference in a person’s life, please consider participating in the 2024 bell-
ringing campaign.