THE NEED REMAINS

The Brainerd Lakes Salvation Army is still in need of volunteer bell ringers.

In a news release Tuesday, Maj. Jeff Strickler, corps officer, said, "We still have 737 volunteer hours of bell ringing that remain unfilled. We are now almost one-third of the way to our Christmas kettle fundraising goal of $103,000. If we can just fill these hours, I'm confident we can reach our goal despite our weak economy. Many of our unemployed neighbors are counting on us for help this Christmas season."

The kettle season runs until Dec. 24, during which time volunteers will bell ring at eight Brainerd and Baxter locations every weekday and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Kettle donations account for about one-fifth of the Brainerd Lakes Salvation Army's annual operating budget. These funds help serve more than 11,000 Brainerd lakes residents every year.

"We are seeing many people who are currently unemployed volunteer to ring bells this season," Stricker said. "Several unemployed volunteers have said, 'I have some extra time on my hands, I may as well use it to give back to my community.' Area high school and college students also are coming forward to share some of their Christmas break time with us as volunteers."

Those interested in volunteering should contact the Salvation Army at 829-1120 to sign up to ring bells.

In addition to needing volunteer bell ringers, the Salvation Army also is in need of Angel Tree gifts for children. The Salvation Army has only had about one-third of the Angel tree tags with gifts returned compared with last year.

Time is quickly running out for people to purchase and return Angel Tree gifts in time for their distribution to children in need. Angel Tree locations include Walmart, Westgate Mall, Bremer Banks, Wells Fargo Bank, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Unions, First National Banks of Deerwood, BN Credit Union and Big Stone Therapies.