Fort Worth Salvation Army $100,000 behind goal due to shortage of bell ringer volunteers

The Salvation Army in Fort Worth is desperately looking for people to be bell ringers as it expects to fall $100,000 short of its donation goal.

Patrick Patey, Marketing & Communication Director of Fort Worth Salvation Army, said they’ve had a shortage of volunteers for their annual red kettle campaign.

“The Red Kettle Campaign is our largest public fundraiser of the year, it’s a very important time and campaign for us,” Patey said. “So not having enough bell ringers is really creating a problem because the way it looks, we’re tracking about $100,000 behind.”

And, he said, time is running out. The campaign ends on Christmas Eve.

“We’re going into the home stretch next week, so time is running short for people to help,” Patey said.

The group has 155 locations available at stores across Fort Worth, but there have only been enough ringers to cover 40 sites each day.

“Fewer sites open means fewer donations collected each day. This ultimately translates into less funding to operate The Salvation Army centers,” a press release from the organization said.

The Salvation Army in Fort Worth, located on 1855 E. Lancaster Ave. and 3023 NW 24th Street, is trying to raise $363,000 this holiday season, the group said. They expect to come up $102,000 short.

Patey said it’s been many years since he’s seen a shortage like this. He thinks part of the problem may be due to a better economy because the group’s seasonal bell ringers, who the organization pays, can find better paying jobs.

Seasonal bell ringers are paid to work longer shifts, Patey said. What the organization really needs, he said, is volunteers.

“Every penny a volunteer raises goes back to the Salvation Army,” he said.

Patey encouraged people to gather a group and sign up. A red kettle site needs about five people a day, with each person working a two-hour shift.

“The thing too is, it’s easy for volunteers - we’re not asking them to stand there for 10 hours,” he said. “It’s more fun with others out there ringing the bell with you, too.”

The Salvation Army provides services such as emergency family shelter, free daily meals, addiction recovery programs, food pantry, after-school program for children, summer day camp, senior adult activities, youth and character building programs, Christmas assistance and cooling stations during the summer.

Groups can register and select a location near them by going to RegisterToRing.com.

This story was originally published December 15, 2018 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Fort Worth Salvation Army $100,000 behind goal due to shortage of bell ringer volunteers."