Familiar faces from across the region are set to take a turn ringing bells for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign this weekend, part of an annual fundraising push that supports year-round services throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties.
U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne is scheduled to volunteer at a Sam’s Club location in Daphne, while Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson plans to ring the bell near the entrance of Bel Air Mall in Mobile. Employees from Infirmary Health System will also staff kettles at four separate stores, including locations in Daphne, Fairhope and Saraland, while the Point Clear Rotary Club and the Gulf Shores Kiwanis Club are each committing volunteers to cover extended shifts at retail locations in Fairhope and Gulf Shores.
Salvation Army officials said the participation of local leaders and organizations helps draw attention to the campaign and encourages residents to consider volunteering themselves. The Red Kettle Campaign will continue through Christmas Eve at Walmart, Sam’s Club, Winn-Dixie and Hobby Lobby locations across the two counties, as well as at Bel Air Mall, with proceeds funding the organization’s programs throughout the year.
Residents interested in becoming a bell ringer, either individually or as part of a group or business, can contact The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama directly to sign up for a shift.
This year, the organization also expanded its fundraising reach with the launch of an Online Red Kettle program, allowing supporters to set up personal virtual kettles and invite friends, family and coworkers to contribute without needing to carry cash or visit a physical location. Officials said the digital option was designed to meet donors who have grown more comfortable giving online, while ensuring every dollar raised has the same local impact as cash placed in a kettle outside a store. Funds raised through kettles tied to a Mobile or Baldwin County ZIP code stay within the local Salvation Army chapter, supporting services in the community throughout the year.
Separately, a Walmart location in Foley is hosting a “Fill the Truck” toy drive this weekend, encouraging shoppers to purchase and donate toys for the organization’s Angel Tree program. Organizers said roughly 100 children in the area still needed a sponsor as of this week, and hope the toy drive will help ensure every child has a gift to open on Christmas morning.