Mayor Tracy Welch takes the Mayoral Bell Ringer Challenge for Salvation Army

 

[December 20, 2024] 

On Friday evening, Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch was busy in the entrance of the Lincoln Wal-Mart, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign.

The Red Kettle is an annual fundraiser for the Salvation Army and is a tradition that has been ongoing for many years.

This year, according to the director of the Salvation Army 360 Life Center in Lincoln, the Salvation Army has added a new tool to the toolbox for raising funds. The Mayoral Bell Ringer Challenge is going on in many communities this year.

The overall goal is to raise funds by asking mayors to take a challenge to raise funds for the Salvation Army by doing a stint at the Red Kettle.

Oney said this year, Welch is the only mayor in Logan County that has taken the challenge, but she is hopeful that the friendly competition will grow in coming years.

The campaign is proving to be effective, as according to other news sources, at least one nearby county had multiple mayors take the challenge with the winning mayor bringing in more than $4,000.

Each year it becomes more difficult for the Salvation Army to make ends meet and locally, Oney said the Red Kettle Campaign has not yet met its goal.

Friday evening, Welch said that helping someone who helps so many in the community is the right thing to do, and he is hopeful that in the future, more mayors will take the challenge.

In addition to raising money for the Salvation Army, Oney said the mayors who raise the most will get bragging rights, and will be given possession of a traveling trophy, to be handed off annually after the Christmas campaign.

[Nila Smith]