Clark Ryder provided a total of 10 hours in volunteer services at Salvation Army kettle stands over two weekends, here taking inside cover out of the snow and cold at Bement Mini Mart during a Saturday shift.
The Bement Unit of the Salvation Army experienced a mixed set of results during its 2025 annual December collection efforts, which included volunteer bell ringers stationed throughout the community as well as several notable individual donations.
Kettle stations were set up at JTA Foods and the Bement Mini Mart (Marathon) over two weekends, along with an indoor location at the Lions Club during the Christmas in Bement Vendor Blender. On that day, a snowstorm combined with historically cold temperatures significantly affected turnout. The Bement Unit extends sincere appreciation to these longtime local business partners and to the community at large for their continued support.
Kettle locations were staffed by dedicated volunteer bell ringers from across the community, including Clark Ryder (five shifts), River Whidden, Emma Garlutzo, Ryan Humphrey, Cory McQueen, Janet Perry (who was snow-stranded on her return trip home), and Lisa Tempel.
The local coordinator noted that these volunteers represented only about one-third of the usual number of bell ringers available during a typical kettle drive. Cold temperatures and snowfall further hampered fundraising efforts for those who braved the frigid conditions.
Despite these challenges, kettle collections were bolstered by four very generous individual donations—three anonymous gifts and a significant contribution from the Bement United Methodist Church.
“I prefer to view the glass as half full and focus on the positive,” the coordinator said. “There is no question about the generosity that exists locally, which is evident year after year. However, people are more likely to contribute when a kettle is attended. Those notable gifts accounted for 60 percent of our total, bringing us close to the collection numbers achieved in recent years. While the harsh weather certainly didn’t help, with an additional eight to ten bell ringers, I have no doubt we could have had a record-setting season.”
The best news is that as a result of the collection total the local unit has still been able to help make the season a little more pleasant for a good number of families in the area.
Keep in mind the weekend dates of December 5 and 12, 2026. Mark your calendars now as you plan to assist the Bement Unit of Salvation Army during their next collection effort.
