Familiar faces to ring bells Saturday for The Salvation Army

The familiar sound of bells ringing outside grocery and department stores should be a little more noticeable Saturday as the annual Salvation Army Celebrity Bell Ringing challenge takes place.

Members of the Carson City Kiwanis were eager to sign up to help the Red Kettle program. The Kiwanis will be at Smith's Food and Drug at 599 E. William St. and Raley's at 3701 S. Carson St.

Also participating are Carson High School NJROTC, Soroptimist International of Carson City and a few individual families.

"I've been bell ringing for eight or nine years now. It's a very meaningful thing for me," said Bryan Bibee, Kiwanis member. "My grandma and great-aunt were bell ringers in Southern California in the '50s. I love to see the volunteers out there."

Bibee and the Kiwanis Club challenges the community and fellow service clubs to raise money for the Salvation Army's community services.

Capt. Erica Helton of the Carson City Salvation Army said as the holidays approach, collections pick up.

"As we get closer to Christmas, the spirit is good and we're closing in on our goal," Helton said. "It's fabulous.

"We've had wonderful generosity from the community, and Dick Campagni of Carson City Toyota and the Capitol Police are giving us bikes, which is amazing. And random people have shown up on our door offering toys and food."

Helton encourages those wanting to be part of the bell ringing Saturday or any day up to Dec. 24 to call her at 887-9120.

On Monday, members of the Carson City Fire Department will be at Wal-Mart to spend $4,000 on toys for the Salvation Army's Toys for Joy program.

"Ken Engels with the fire department, has encouraged the guys to come and we'll have them and fire trucks at Wal-Mart Monday, where we will be shopping our hearts out getting dolls and trucks. It will be fun stuff. It's just fabulous."

Engels, a pump operator/driver, has been doing the fund-raising and shopping for toys for about 29 years.

"The money comes from the Carson City Firefighters Association," Engels said. "And for the last four or five years we've raffled off a Jeep. That's where the money comes from and goes to the toys and different organizations."

Engels said shopping is mostly done by the older guys in the department, with some bringing their wives and daughters to help shop for young ladies and little girls.

"It helps to have a lot of people, it gets done faster," he said. "We get done within about an hour to an hour and a half. Everybody grabs a basket and goes nuts for a little while."

Contact reporter Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

YOU CAN HELP

What: Celebrity Bell Ringing for The Salvation Army

Where: Locations all over Carson City and Douglas County

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday

Call: 887-9120