Holiday bell ringing to extend into summer
To help
To volunteer as a bell ringer, call (608) 757-8300.
JANESVILLE — It’ll be Christmas in July at several grocery stores around Janesville next month.
The Janesville Salvation Army will hold a special bell-ringing session Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, to stock up its food pantry. Volunteers will ring bells and collect donations at Walmart, 3800 Deerfield Drive; Woodman’s, 2819 N. Lexington Drive; and Logli’s, 1501 Creston Park Drive.
This is the first time Janesville has had a summer bell-ringing session, though other chapters have done it, Capt. Kirk Schuetz said. A few other Wisconsin chapters also will ring bells this summer, he said.
The chapter is hoping to raise a few thousand dollars to boost its pantry. It has already given away most of the food collected by the Boy Scouts and postal carrier food drives, according to a news release.
“We’re just looking at different ways to raise more money to help those in need,” Schuetz said.
The chapter saw an influx of new clients in October and November, Schuetz said. Since then, participant numbers are up slightly, and the chapter is giving away more food, he said.
The chapter has given away more than 1,000 food orders in the last three months, compared to about 3,000 orders given out in all of 2008, the release says. The food orders include nonperishable food and meat.
Some families are coming to the Salvation Army who never needed assistance before, Schuetz said.
“There’s people who haven’t gotten to the place where they had to ask for help (before), but I think that with our new pantry, we’re also able to give more food away, too,” he said.
The Salvation Army opened its expanded and reorganized pantry at 404 Hyatt St. in April.
Officials expect an even greater need later in the year as unemployment benefits run out for people laid off during the recession, Schuetz said.
The Salvation Army accepts donations anytime at its 514 Sutherland Ave. office. It’s most in need of canned meats, pasta, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, macaroni and cheese, soup and canned fruit, the release says.
The chapter is looking for bell ringers, too, Schuetz said. About 40 percent of the July slots still are open.
Jul 1, 2009 at 5:13 p.m.
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i completely agree w/hannah. i'm all for helping those in need - but sometimes it hard to help those who can't help themselves - it seems like a harsh thing to say, but I know an individual in my workplace who gets foodstamps with no need (brings in snacks for coworkers and brags about it???) give up the smokes and you have replenished your food budget - it's not exactly splitting the atom, is it? To those who are truly in need, may Janesville continue to assist you until you reach greener pastures.
Jun 28, 2009 at 11:36 p.m.
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How do they expect getting donations, with the situation in Janesville? General Motors is gone, along with the suppliers for G.M. People are at lost with which way to make ends meet at home. I was wonder if they do use the money for the intended use, or have it for there own use. I think there should be an invesgation into how they use the money.
Jun 28, 2009 at 1:39 p.m.
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I'd really like to know what it takes to qualify for all of the food give away programs. Also how frequently do they check to see if people applying as still legitimately eligible to receive.
I personally know of several who are getting the free food and really have to question just how they are eligible for this. I'm totally in favor of helping those truly in need but there are some who are receiving and truly not in need.
Jun 28, 2009 at 9:13 a.m.
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i have to agree with rummage. times are hard enough for some people they dont need to be made to feel guilty.i do not donate to echo or salvation army food pantries for good reason,i only donate to the humane society,animals dont have a say so about donations people do,i dont think that alot of these donations fully get to the clients, such as all the bakery and sweets that are delivered to salvation army,alot of that is kept for church personal use,i just somehow dont feel that is right,and im not talking about the stuff thats used for making meals to feed the hungry. maybe if alot of these people used their food stamps properly,people wouldnt have to contionually go to food banks,an also those who receive substancial amount of food stamps and a reasonable income should not be able to go to food banks,an this decision doesnt come from being mean,hateful,or selfish,it comes from taking donations to echo one day and seeing people there that truly needed the help, and people there with expensive cell phones top of the line tennis shoes,etc; while their children had nothing.people get tired of giving when all it does is get taking advantage of.i will not give one nickel in those kettles because i dont know what is actually used for,and mind you these are both good orginazations but enough is enough,maybe if you take some of these donations and make these people help themselves,instead of always having to be helped,they might not be so dependant others and get somewhere in life.an for those of you who think im a rude jerk,im not im a very giving person,but i would like to see those who truly need the help get it and tired of those who just keep abusing the generosity of others,to be stopped.
Jun 27, 2009 at 10:16 p.m.
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I am an avid giver to these bell ringers, and understand the need for the donations, but I don't think this should extend into the summer months. If people are able to donate, I think they will, this just sometimes guilts people into doing something they really might not be able to do. This is just my opinion....
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