Bell Ringing Underway Across Mahaska County
This Salvation Army truck looks for victims of Hurricane Harvey in Rockport, Texas, September 2017.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Friends and supporters of the Mahaska County Salvation Army gathered at Penn Central Mall on Friday to kick-off the 2017 bell ringing season.
That sound is a hallmark of the holiday season, as shoppers enter various stores around the community.
The red kettles holding those donations this year will serve the people of Mahaska County. Jerry Morrison with Mahaska County Salvation Army hopes to turn those pennies, nickels, quarters, and dollar bills into thirty-thousand dollars.
The local non-profit spent $27,000 dollars locally last year, “and we need a little bit more,” said Morrison.
At the end of their fiscal year, the Mahaska County Salvation Army sends their remaining balance off to the regional center in Omaha.
Those dollars flow back into the community during times of need, with Mahaska County receiving back $1.07 of every $1.00 they donate. “We’re always getting back more than we put in,” said Morrison.
Bell ringing will be going until December 23rd this year because Christmas eve lands on a Sunday. This will condense the bell ringing schedule for the Salvation Army and their bell-ringers. “For religious reasons, we do not ring on Sunday,” added Morrison.
If you would like to donate your time ringing the bell, give the Salvation Army a call at (641) 295-0942.
