craigdailypress.com

Soon, Salvation Army volunteers will be ringing their bells, encouraging shoppers to drop change in their kettles.

But first, the charity organization needs volunteers to ring those bells.

Last year, 105 Craig residents volunteered to man kettles in front of City Market and Kmart, said LuAnn Kline, kettle campaign organizer.

But the Salvation Army plans to expand the drive this year.

"We have more days this year, so more volunteers would be useful," Kline said.

Plus, some volunteers already were overextended last year, Kline said. Many volunteers signed up for a one-hour shift. But they had to stay longer because no one was there to take over.

The kettle campaign begins after Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, 27 and 28, and it continues Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 19.

"Most people take an hour," said Marie Peer, Moffat County Social Services director. "If you dress up good you're not going to freeze in an hour."

The entrance to City Market is a southern exposure, so it doesn't get too cold, Peer said. Although Kmart's entrance is a northern exposure, the store allows kettle ringers to set up in the foyer if the weather turns cold.

The kettle campaign collected about $5,000 in 2002. Numbers for 2003 haven't been totaled yet.

The donations are used to assist people in emergency situations, Peer said.

People are eligible to receive $100 in aid. But the money must be able to resolve the emergency situation, Peer said. Recipients have used the donations to buy gas, groceries or prescriptions.

The Salvation Army wasn't very active here until about eight years ago, Peer said. But it's been going strong since then. This is the second year Kline organized the kettle campaign.