Fargo Community Offers Tidal Wave Grassroots Support

The 2008 kettle season is still weeks away, yet the Fargo Salvation Army is already brimming with community support: Four local organizations have each agreed to provide at least 88 volunteers for an entire day of bell ringing.

“That’s how many people it takes to cover our 22 kettle sites for 10 hours a day,” said Captain Adam Moore, leader of the Fargo Salvation Army. “What an extraordinary gift.”

What’s more impressive is that the support was completely unsolicited. Each of the four organizations – Hope Lutheran Church, Microsoft, State Bank & Trust, Fargo and Moorhead Fire Fighters Unions – volunteered without The Salvation Army asking.

“Talk about being proactive,” Moore added. “This is grassroots support in its purest form.”

The effort was spearheaded by a women’s Bible study group at Hope Lutheran. Last Christmas season, while studying mission work, the women agreed to put into action what they were learning about. They decided to support The Salvation Army by gathering all the volunteers needed for a full day of Fargo bell ringing.

They didn’t stop there.

The women started calling other organizations, saying, ‘This is what we’re doing – will you join us?’” said Gerri Leach, Fargo Salvation Army community relations director. “Before they knew it, the three other groups signed on.”

In addition, other organizations have agreed to staff several kettle sites for a day or more. These organizations include financial institutions, churches, insurance companies, service clubs, Red Hat Society members and MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) groups.

Perhaps the most interesting bell ringing effort will occur Dec. 20, when three local university mascots will bell ring. Thunder the Bison (NDSU), Cobber (a large corn cob from Concordia College) and the Minnesota State University – Moorhead "Dragon" will each have a kettle and compete to see who can raise the most money.

“Hope Lutheran’s challenge encouraged volunteerism across the board,” Leach said. “These efforts are so exciting and so encouraging, especially during these tough economic times.”

The Fargo/Moorhead kettle season begins at 9 a.m. on Nov. 19 during a kickoff event at the West Acres Shopping Center.

 The bell ringing dates of the organizations mentioned in this story include:

Nov. 19 – Hope Lutheran Church
Nov. 20 – Microsoft
Nov. 21 – State Bank & Trust
Dec. 18 – Fargo-Moorhead Fire Fighters Bucket Brigade Challenge
Dec. 20 – Mascot Challenge

To learn how you or your organization can become a part of bell ringing in Minnesota and North Dakota, click here.