Salvation Army of the Midlands holds annual Christmas Kick-off at the State House

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — As folks are out and about for a little holiday shopping, starting today they may come across the Salvation Army’s bell-ringers and classic red kettles outside of stores.

As members of Columbia International University’s Ambassador Choir sang Carol of the Bells, a different bell ringing season began for the Salvation Army of the Midlands — with the annual Christmas Kick-off signaling the start of the organization’s Red Kettle and Angel Tree campaigns.

Major Mark Craddock with the Salvation Army says nearly 500 volunteers and workers will be ringing bells next to a kettle at a store near you this Christmas season — with a goal of raising a quarter of a million dollars.

“We know in the Midlands that every time that bell rings, a mom sleeps a little bit easier because she knows her kids are going to eat dinner tonight. We know that every time that bell rings, a dad has hope and sleeps a little bit easier tonight because he knows his kids and his family are gonna have a roof over their heads,” Craddock says.

And donations, Craddock says, are about much more than money.

“They’re not just bells that ring out to say, ‘Hey, we need your money. That’s not it. These bells ring so that every person who receives support and service from the Salvation Army and ultimately from each of you, know that those bells ring for hope,” Craddock says.

And as part of its Angel Tree program, which ABC Columbia News proudly sponsors, 2,510 children have been adopted by the organization this year — ensuring every child has gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.

“When you see mom’s face — when we meet her at the State Fairgrounds and we put those gifts in her car, and you see the tears of joy, and you realize that this is a real investment into a real family. And that takes a lot of the financial pressure off of the family,” says Craddock.

Kick starting the kick-off, JT’s Automotive Group presented a check to the Salvation Army for $150,000.

“We contribute to the Salvation Army for one simple reason: the motto that the Salvation Army holds, which is ‘Doing the most good,’ and I will add to that, ‘for those who are most in need,” says JT Gandolfo, owner of JT’s Automotive Group.

As donations begin, Sheriff Leon Lott says he and other members of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department will be volunteering as bell-ringers in front of Walmart on Two Notch Road on December 7th.

“It doesn’t matter if you put a dollar in or a $100,000 in. The fact that you put something in that bucket means you care. And that’s what our community is all about is about caring for each other,” says Lott.