Karen’s kettle go cha-ching for Salvation Army
Karen Shields rings bells for the Salvation Army outside of the Piggly Wiggly in Bridgeport. Kettle ringers are one of many charitable causes every holiday season. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
By Steve Van Kooten
How can you resist a smile and a Merry Christmas?
Choose your answer wisely because Karen Shields is out with her bells, kettle and holiday spirit to raise money for the Salvation Army.
“Would you be more likely to put something in the bucket if I’m here ringing a bell and playing music, or if it was inside at the counter?” asked Shields. She stood outside the Piggly Wiggly entrance, swinging a brand new bell and playing festive music in an appeal to people’s giving nature. This year, she will man her kettles for 10 days.
“I’m never one to pass up an opportunity to get dressed up and maybe draw attention to a cause or something that I’m doing,” she said.
Shields said that she lets kids ring the new bell when they stop at her kettle. It’s a way to get families into the season. After all, it wouldn’t feel like Christmas without bell ringers — that would be like not having carolers or the holiday church services or the Holiday Pie at McDonald’s.
Besides the Pig, volunteers ring bells at the Walmart in Bridgeport, and the fire department collaborates with Cabela’s in the town of Prairie du Chien.
Shields pointed out that the money raised by the Salvation Army goes toward local needs.
“The money that is raised here stays in the county,” said Shields. “It’s not like Crawford County pools their money with Grant County and sends it to Madison. It stays right here.”
In 2022, the local Salvation Army raised nearly $14,000, and they continue working to increase that number year over year.
The Salvation Army, including Shields, participated in this year’s Holiday Parade in Prairie du Chien. In a bit of a role reversal, the Salvation Army was the one doing the giving; they handed out candy and instructions for people so they can donate volunteer online, if they choose.
That’s important because many people don’t walk around with a pocket full of cash anymore.
“What I have found through being a part of this organization is that because of Venmo, debit cards and credit cards, people don’t carry cash. So, that has brought down the fundraising a little bit,” said Shields.
The Salvation Army is still looking for volunteers to ring bells. To learn more, visit the Salvation Army of Crawford County, WI Facebook page. To give a donation online, follow the link on their social media page to make one-time or monthly donations.
For people in the Prairie du Chien area, there are plenty of charitable causes during the holidays, including Operation Santa and the Age and Disability Resource Center’s Elf to an Elder program, so it might be best to ask Santa to stuff some new checkbooks in your stocking this giving season. You’ll probably need them.
