Cass County’s Salvation Army Bell Ringing Campaign is at the half-way mark, and so far, donations are running ahead of last year at this same time. County Chair Duane McFadden said Thursday night the bell ringers had raised a little over $4,500 since the Grand Lighting Ceremony in downtown Atlantic, on November 17th. He says last year they raised a little more than $5,300 altogether. Donations started coming in slowly at first this year, because of the weather on the first Saturday of the effort, but things began to pick up from there, and McFadden hopes they will finish with a fine effort as well.

McFadden says the familiar Red Kettle’s will be in place at Fareway, Hy-Vee, and Wal-Mart in Atlantic, through Christmas Eve. He encourages anyone who wishes to volunteer their time to help ring the bells, to call him as soon as possible, as there are still some open shifts. The two-hour shifts run from 10-a.m. to Noon, Noon until 2-p.m., and from 2-until 4-p.m.  McFadden says for many people, the experience has proven to be very rewarding. He says you can call him at 249-0939. One man who volunteered for the first time, told McFadden afterward that he wanted to volunteer again for the following year. Duane says it’s something you’ll treasure when you volunteer your time for a good cause.

The funds raised by the campaign stay in Cass County.  Over the course of past year, the funds were made available for such programs as the “Shop with a Cop” program, gift cards to local schools, to assist students in meeting various needs, assisting stranded motorists and transient individuals,  fans for distribution by West Central Community Action Center, and, back packs to be distributed by the administrative staff.

This year the Cass County Salvation Army unit also partnered with the Parents as Teachers Program, to purchase car seats for the program’s use.