You are likely to hear familiar golden bells chime when walking into Walmart and other Chippewa County business locations, where The Salvation Army is collecting the monetary donations needed to help its community in 2023.
Bell ringer Jim Lewis has devoted approximately ten years to the cause.
“I left for one year because my parents were sick,” he said. “I took care of them.”
Lewis just lost his mother last week, but that did not stop him from standing outside of the Walmart entrance this morning.
“It's about meeting people and helping them," said Lewis, ringing his bell with the warmest of smiles. "This bucket will be full at the end of the day. People are very generous this year. Everyone's in the spirit of giving.”
As for cold temperatures, Lewis said he was not bothered in the least because he was raised a “Yooper.”
"All the funds stay in the local community,” Salvation Army Corps Officer Eric Gilbert said. “The Salvation Army keeps .93 cents of every dollar donated in the community. The other seven percent is just to help pay wages and other things like that.”
Gilbert shared the story of an elderly gentleman who rang in the big bucks outside of Mac's Market in Newberry last year.
“He came in to introduce himself and told me ‘Ya know… my wife and I don't have a lot of money, but we can ring bells,’” said Gilbert. “He raised over $6,000 in one day.”
Bell ringers help the Salvation Army keep its lights on throughout the year, provide meals to those who are hungry, help people keep their heat on during winter months, purchase toys for kids around Christmas, and so much more.
