Dalberg is the commander of Lawrence’s Salvation Army post at 946 N.H. He’ll be on hand to discuss holiday fund-raising and other issues of interest to the community.

Moderator

Hi folks! I’m Joel Mathis, managing editor for convergence. Lt. Dalberg is here, and he’d like to talk about volunteer bell-ringing during the Christmas season.

Lt. Wes Dalberg

Hi! This is Wes Dalberg. I’m the Corps Officer at The Salvation Army in Lawrence.

khudlemeyer

What programs are funded by the kettles and how can one participate in bellringing?

Lt. Wes Dalberg

All of our holiday assistance to families in Douglas Co. as well as our year round programs of rent, food, and utility assistance. Also our youth programming and sheltering programs

november_sky

Sir,

I appreciate what the volunteer bellringers do! They stand out in front of stores in cold weather and they ring their bell hoping that passersby will give what they can afford to give. I think the bellringer people are wonderful souls! However, last year I had an unfortunate encounter with one such bellringer while I was entering a Dillons store. I walked past a man while he was ringing his bell and he rang that bell of his right in my ear! I should point out to you that I had to walk relatively close to him because I had no choice..it was very crowded with pedestrians where I was walking. Now I’m sure that he could have stopped ringing his bell for a moment or two until I walked past him…but instead he chose to wave that bell of his up and down and up and down…right as I walking about a foot away from him!! He very nearly blew out my eardrum! I was mad but I didn’t say anything to him…I didn’t want to cause a scene. But I just think that these volunteers should be taught “bell ringing etiquette”. What do you think? I mean, it’s common sense, really. A person should know better than to clang his or her bell so close to some guy’s ear…wouldn’t you agree? Thank you for your time and Season’s Greetings to you and the Salvation Army!!

Lt. Wes Dalberg

Sorry that, that took place. With paid bellringers we do have the oppotunity to have an orientation before they go out to ring the bell the volunteers on the other hand we usually do not have the opportunity in advance to do any sort of orientation with. It does make me think however that perhaps before the volunteer or volunteer group goes out we should send them a simple list of bell ringing do’s and don’ts. Thanks for your support!

Moderator

How many ringers do you need this season? How do you find them?

Lt. Wes Dalberg

We have 19 kettle locations this Christmas season in the Lawrence area. We would like to fill all of those spot with volunteer workers on the six Saturdays starting November 18 running through December 23. Those are operating from 10 AM – 8 PM. Volunteers can contact our offices at 785-843-4188 X 102 and speak with Donnie about getting a time and location to volunteer at.

Moderator

What is your fund-raising goal this season? The goal hasn’t necessarily been easy to reach in recent years, has it?

Lt. Wes Dalberg

Our kettle goal for this Christmas is $100,000 Last year we had a difficult time as a partial result of the hurricane relief efforts and other worthy causes that people were asked to support. We were about $20,000 short of our goal last year but I believe it was reachable had we had enough bell ringers at the locations.

Moderator

Will Target let you ring near their store this year?

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/nov/01/salvation_army_bells/

Lt. Wes Dalberg

No. Target has however put an area on their website that allows persons to make donations to The Salvation Army.

Moderator

Just to clarify: The bell-ringing fund-raiser has nothing to do with your efforts to build a new facility in East Lawrence, does it? If not, how are those efforts coming?

Lt. Wes Dalberg

That is correct. The capital fund raising that has been done previous to this has nothing to do with the Christmas Kettle Campaign, which is an annual fund raising effort done by The Salvation Army all over the U.S. This is an opportunity for us to raise operating dollars that directly support the ministries and programs of the local Salvation Army.

Bassetlover

You must have one of the toughest jobs in the non-profit world. What is your biggest challenge in Lawrence as compared to other Salvation Army posts you’ve directed?

Lt. Wes Dalberg

Lawrence seems to be the most political community that I have been in. It makes it a challenge to appeal to so many different persons and groups within the community.

Moderator

What else should we know about the bell-ringing campaign?

Lt. Wes Dalberg

It begins on November 17th and runs through December 23rd. If anyone is in need of seasonal employment we do have some bell ringing positions available. Apply at The Salvation Army 10th and New Hampshire Streets. Volunteers are going to be the key to our reaching our goal. The more volunteer workers we have the better it will be. Volunteers allow us to use more of these funds directly on services to people and that is why we are raising the funds after all.

Moderator

We’re out of questions. Thanks for coming in!

Lt. Wes Dalberg

Thanks for letting me share these few moments with you. Have a Merry Christmas!