The Salvation Army in Benton Harbor has begun its annual bell ringing campaign, raising money for its shelter and food bank.

Benton Harbor Corps Officer and Lieutenant Mario Bledsoe tells us they’ve stationed bell ringers at five locations around west Berrien County and Van Buren County. They are the Harding’s stores in St. Joseph, Hartford, and Coloma, as well as the Hobby Lobby in Benton Harbor and the Family Fare in Paw Paw.

Bledsoe says once Thanksgiving arrives, they’ll send out more bell ringers, and they need volunteers.

“We have a few bell ringers that are paid. The rest are volunteers anywhere from west Berrien and Van Buren County who wants to help in that way,” Bledsoe said. “With the snow coming down and Christmas coming, the familiar bell, hearing the bell, people get excited for it and get encouraged to help us.”

Last year’s goal for the bell ringing campaign was $162,000, and Bledsoe says the generous people of Southwest Michigan gave $330,000. That’s the result of cash dropped into bell ringer kettles, online donations, and donations at the shelter in Benton Harbor. The goal for this year is $175,000. They certainly could use it.

“We’ve been getting more people coming to get food, even people just to come get warm because of the recent cold. So we’re very grateful for partners like Berrien Community Foundation, Meals on Wheels, and then we have this network, Food Network.”

The bell ringers can be found stationed at their kettles at the mentioned locations between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Anyone interested in volunteering to be a bell ringer can sign up at RegisterToRing.com. Bledsoe says when they expand to more locations later this month, they’ll be in South Haven, Mattawan, Bridgman, Stevensville, and Benton Harbor.

Remember, the Salvation Army in Benton Harbor serves all of western Berrien County and all of Van Buren County.