Salvation Army Bell Ringers bring Christmas cheer for the area needy!

Every year about thanksgiving time the familiar Salvation Army red kettles appear at front entrances of dozens of local businesses attended by the also familiar bel ringers in their endeavors to collect monetary funds for the Army’s Christmas fund for those in need.

What is not so familiar to the general public are the Rotary Bell Ringers who, once every Christmas season, volunteer their time as bell ringers for this worthy cause.  This has been a tradition for over forty years.  Every year our Rotary Club volunteers to staff three locations in the City of Moline from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the Saturday a week before Christmas.  Individual Rotarians volunteer an hour or more of their time to ring the bells in good weather and bad.  (It gets pretty “cool” sometimes).  Some Rotarians bring their sons, daughters, or grandchildren as additional ringers.  This is a good experience for the younger folks and is encouraged.  Rotarians are encouraged to make their personal contributions at this time.

Over the years with our personal contributions and ringing efforts we are usually able to raise several thousand dollars.