Kiwanis leads local bell ringing effort to benefit TOPSS, Salvation Army
The Kiwanis Club of Oxford is once again leading a bell ringing campaign to raise money for the local food pantry. Last year, the December campaign brought in $12,000.
Snow was already falling on Dec. 2 as Bob Carmean and Bobbe Burke arrived at Kroger at 5 p.m., but neither one of them made it past the entrance vestibule. Instead, they started to ring their bells.
Each year, the Oxford Kiwanis Club coordinates bell ringing for the Salvation Army. This year’s bell ringing stretches from Nov. 29 to Dec. 24, and 90% of the proceeds will go toward the Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services (TOPSS). The remaining tenth will be used for Salvation Army programming in southwest Ohio.
Burke and Carmean have both helped with the bells in past years, too. Burke has also frequently volunteered with TOPSS and attended the organization’s community Thanksgiving dinner this year, so she appreciates how much of the funding goes toward the organization.
“When you get close to Christmas Day, those days get harder to fill in, too,” Burke said. “So if you’re not going to travel, it’s easy to take the spot for people who are going to be busy traveling out of town or doing something different.”
Donations are collected in “red kettles,” and the tradition dates back to 1891, according to the Salvation Army website. Bell ringers can sign up online by going to www.oxfordkiwanis.org and clicking on “Volunteer Opportunities.” Most remaining hourlong timeslots are closer to Christmas.
Last year, more than 200 volunteers rang bells throughout December, raising $12,000 total.
One hour of volunteer time leads to $40 to $50 in donations, according to a press release from the Oxford Kiwanis Club. Donations help TOPSS provide meals, rental and utility assistance, and other essential needs for people within the Talawanda School District.
The Kiwanis bell ringing effort requires approximately 250 hours of volunteer service for ringing bells each season. A special thank you is extended to Kroger’s for hosting this community support effort and to all those who give of their time and energy to extend the gifts of Help, Hope, and Comfort to those in need.
