All right, it's the holiday season. I can't believe it's the holiday season. It's just
like we were lining it lining up for the 4th of July parade yesterday. And here we are,
tons of snow, the holiday seasons here. And that means it's those ringing bells at the
Kettles, Captain Eddie Williams and the Salvation Army is here. And I was telling you before we
went on the air, you can watch movies from the 30s, the 40s, the 50s, 60s. There's always a scene
with a red cattle and somebody ringing a bell. Usually it's a Santa Claus. They about
their ringing a bell for the Salvation Army. And everybody's always putting stuff into it.
It's an old time radio shows. And it's on every one of the Christmas ones too. We hear the bells,
they're ringing the bells for the Salvation Army. So you guys have been around for how long now?
The Salvation Army internationally has been around for over 150 years. But we've been present
in Racine for over 130 years. Whoa, all right. So you will hear what my house was built about them.
Now there was a movie in a Broadway show and a movie made and it was somewhere about the Salvation
Army, Guys and Dolls. Yes. Yeah, I think last time I was here you asked me that question.
And so I haven't forgotten the answer to that. Just in case you asked again. The Broadway
music, a lot of great music came from Guys and Dolls and it was made into a movie and it was all
centered around the Salvation Army. And it's gangsters and the Salvation Army.
But yeah, there are a lot of movies based around the Salvation Army. There was one with Rex Harris
and he one of his older movies. And again, it was based on the Salvation Army.
In Pocket Full of Miracles, one of my favorite movies with Glenn Ford and Betty Davis Salvation Army
Ringy Bells were reveling in that film. But it's always in the movies. Yeah, everybody's giving.
Now when you, you're on, you don't mainly do street corners here in Racine. You go to like
supermarket stores, right? It's a lot safer than just sitting on a street corner. And so it's
nice that they give you permission to do it. Yeah, a lot of stories are gracious to allow us to
ring inside the vestibule. And so a lot of our locations, our ringers and volunteers can be
safe from the elements. There are a few locations where, you know, due to, you know, reasons we have
to ring outside. But we're always grateful, right? It's a privilege. It's an honor. They don't have
to allow us to stand in to collect fund funds for the community. And so we're always appreciative and
thankful for their partnership and collaboration in that. And they're very nice to during the summer
when the boy scouts are at the selling candy bars. I always say and I know they're thinking,
guys just saying that I say, I'll get you on the way out because I'm walking out of the store
with a candy bar. They'll handcuff me. And I want to make sure that I buy it on the way out.
And I'm sure the kids say, yeah, right, you'll buy it. But I always do, right? And
what you have the kettle is now, you have to empty those every night, obviously.
Every night. Every night. And I'm not going to ask you the amounts in there because that's not
important. But people are pretty generous. Yes. Yeah. The Racine community has just gone above
and beyond at least, you know, for obviously a number of years. But in my time here in Racine,
we've just seen incredible generosity displayed through the selfless giving of so many who continue
to support not only our work and our mission, but individuals who want to see those experiencing
hardship and crisis in their own lives, kind of try to new pathway to stability and self-sufficiency.
I mean, overcoming those barriers to poverty that kind of prevent them from from doing greater
and improving their quality of life. And so we're thankful once again several years ago, right?
We're you're sitting. I had an expert on charity giving. I don't think he was from charity
navigate her. I'm not sure. But he was an auditor of charities to make sure they're doing what
they're supposed to be doing. And I brought in a bag full of request because I give to a lot of
animal charities and veterans charities. And I brought in a bag of everybody requesting
money from me. We went through a few of them. And he said, I said, who's the best deal to give
money to? He said, you know, all the other thing we've done, though, when you give a dollar to
the Salvation Army, just about all that dollar goes to where it's supposed to go. It doesn't go
to administration. There's a little bit. Yeah. But it's the best one when it comes to donating
the Salvation Army. They give more money, more of your dollar to where it's supposed to be going.
So congratulations. Thank you. Oh, absolutely. I think nationally about 87 cent of every dollar
goes directly to support the community about the remaining 13% obviously is used for administrative
costs. We have buildings that need lights and gas and water. We have employees, staff, team members
who run the day-to-day operations, food pantry, case management, reception office managers.
And so I think that's the incredible thing about the Salvation Army is that most of what we
donate goes right back to those who needed the most. That's what he said. He said, so you were
the number one on his list. And I went to some of my animal charities. They'll hold an A's. I mean,
again, you have some administrative costs. Yeah. But most of it goes to where it's supposed to be
going. And that's where I give money. I see it's like a 50% 50-50. I don't give to it. But if they
are going to give 90% to the animals or to the veterans, yeah, they give my money. Absolutely.
And I do it all the time. Okay. So who brings these candles? So the Salvation Army actually
employs seasonal bell ringers, individuals from the community who come alongside to support and help
us. And so they go out and they ring the bells, right, giving it their all engaging with the community,
collecting donations that support our year-round operations and programs that support the
community. But we also depend upon a lot of volunteers. The great thing about volunteers is that
they allow us to net more profit from our fundraising campaign. So that way, we can expense more
in serving and meeting the needs of our community members year-round. And so we really, it's really
an impressive operation to pull together paid bell ringers and volunteers to coordinate schedules
and to make sure that everybody has the equipment and the resources they need. But it really is
a beautiful expression of God's grace, a beautiful expression of community, of support and encouragement.
And we're always blessed by those who have such a great time just serving, right, their community
through this opportunity. How long have you been with the Salvation Army? So I've been a Salvation Army
officer, a pastor going on nine years. But I grew up in the Salvation Army my entire life. And so a lot
of the programs and services that we offer my family received back in St. Louis going to summer,
Cam learning to play brass instruments, being a part of our version. Yeah, we don't have one in
race scene, but I just started playing my cronet again. And so if there's anybody out there that
is interested in teaching brass music, you know, come and see me. We can talk about some things.
Salvation Army band. Yeah, no, no, you know, I couldn't dig up a bunch of guys who women who
know how to play some brass instruments. I mean, you can't have a violin in the band, but
as I go to y'all in one of his movies in the marching band, he played the cello. Yeah,
and he had a chair used to carry the sit down play a little cello pick up the chair with the
marching band play the cello. Oh, yeah, that's too bad you can't find the get a marching band
because in all the movies, I see they always have a band. Yeah, it would be nice. So you haven't
been there the full one hundred and thirty years, huh? No, not me. I'm just checking.
I just said we were a long time. I figured, okay, and just to make it, we're going to we're
going to rejoin Cam. We're not rejoining him. We're just getting quick break here.
Captain Eddie Williams, the Salvation Army is here. How can you become a bell ringer? I was a
bell ringer. Great. I was a bell ringer in Milwaukee at the Grand Avenue Mall when they was in
it's when they got rebuilt and opened up. So I was a bell ringer for a week there. Awesome.
And yeah, it was pretty good. People give money. Of course, it's a Christmas time. People
feel in a good mood. Right. So they'll they'll give money. Captain Eddie Williams from the Salvation
Army is here today. Yeah, one shlepping through the snow and everything. I did six a.m. I got up.
Just why can't make you're on time. I used to get your 530 on the dot and I left about a half
hour earlier than normally do. Got your 530 on the dot. Hey, I just took a look at my car. It's
all snow covered again. I'll give you the brush. You can brush it open. You know, I think you're
parked right next to me anyway. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's when you get out. It's gonna burst down.
We were talking about volunteers and for the bell ringing before we get to anything else,
how do people volunteer for the bell ringing? Yeah. So the Salvation Army for our volunteers can sign
up online by by visiting a register to ring dot com. And so we have a two hour bell ringing
shift set up at about 14 locations throughout Racine. And so they can just go online, pick a
location that they like to ring at two hours. Grab your family, grab your friends. Yeah,
you get to choose where you get to stand. Is there one at Culver's? Where are we?
They're account. We have counterkettles at Culver's where when you buy your
meal, you can know me. I want to bell ringing from food plays like Owen H. Danish bakery.
At least you get to smell the baked goods. Right? No, we don't know. Not there.
How do people get in there? How do they how do they register to get in? Where do they
notify you at? Yeah. So you can visit register to ring dot com or you can call the Salvation Army
here in Racine at two six two six three two three one four seven. And our office manager Ruth,
who's exceptional can help you or walk you through the process to get you signed up at a location
of your choice. We'll mention that again before kept in every way. Let's talk about the
biggest thing in the news now, people starving. They don't have any money for food. I look at this
and I want to cry when there's a woman. I have an eating in two days and my children I'm giving
them all the food because the snap money, you know, Congress, whatever reason, selfish reason they
have. Yeah. On both sides of the political side there don't feel as necessary to feed people.
So what are you guys doing? Yeah. So the Salvation Army continues to address food insecurity
throughout Racine and even with the recent snap and ten of concerns throughout food pantry.
We operate a weekly pantry every Wednesday and Thursday from nine a.m. until 12 p.m.
or until we started the first 30 families. And so right now we've seen an increase of new
and first time families. We see about 30 of 40 a month. And these are just families that are
receiving services throughout food pantry for the very first time. And so there's a lot of need
for a lot of individuals throughout Racine and obviously the Salvation Army is happy to help.
But we understand that some of our other community partners are also contributing and supporting
families and individuals through this hard time as well. And I also would like to mention
that the Salvation Army also operates a child nutrition program called the Healthy Kids Diner.
And this program provides hot nutritious meals at four, three of the Racine Police Department's
cop houses Monday through Friday between three and five p.m. So families can bring their children.
They come inside, we'll give them a meal whether it be cheeseburgers, sloppy Joe, soup,
things of that nature. So that way they can have access to healthy nutritious meals as well.
So when people donate to the Kettles, the money goes to the money goes to fund programs
like the Healthy Kids Diner to support food purchases through feeding America and other
locations for our food pantry. It supports our housing assistance for those who are on and
are facing eviction. It supports case management services and programs like our Pathway of Hope
Initiative that allows clients with family with children under 18. I'm kind of work towards
stability and self-sufficiency through goal planning. And it's just overall right. Our mission is
simple. We were called to preach the Gospel of Jesus and to meet human needs in his name without
discrimination. And so every cent, every dollar donated at a red kettle goes to ensure that the
community is resourced through the salvation army as best as we can and also so that we don't
have to have any interruptions to our programming throughout the year. Wow. You know, every day I
thank God, when I pulled to the parking lot here, I do my prayers and I thank God that I grew up in
the household I did. I grew up and I'll leave it to be for household with my parents. Perfect
parents. My brother and I always talk about we hit the pick six in the gene pool with our parents.
I mean, you don't get to pick your parents. So you're very lucky when they turn out to be great.
Like my parents were never talked about money. It was always there. You know, I found out later on,
they did struggle, but they didn't let us know they were struggling. You know, whatever they
sacrificed for, we got my brother and I. So, you know, I see these families out there that
is trying to stretch a dollar to feed their children. I don't want to cry. I want to grab them and
say here's a meal. I'll feed you. Absolutely. Absolutely. And now it's tougher. I noticed the
politicians aren't missing a meal. I've seen some of those fat bellies out there. They seem to be
getting all their food. And I just now hopefully today, they made some kind of agreement last night
actually. Yeah. Hopefully the money will be flowing again to these people that need it. And then,
you know, people say, well, they should get a job. Wait, not everybody. When you got a couple of
kids and you're a single mom or single dad, it's not a matter of getting a job. You have a job
and still not have enough money. Yeah. It's not, you know, you get it. Remember, not everybody's
just fortunate as my brother and I say, you're not lucky to hit the pick six in the gene pool and,
you know, just, you know, happens to do it. Well, and I understand that from experience,
growing up in St. Louis, my mom raising three kids. Though my dad was in the house, he struggled
with his own devices with alcohol. And so, um, watching her as a kid, um, carrying the load of
raising three kids of paying all the bills, of providing food, of working two and three jobs,
just it gives you a new affinity and a new perspective that I think many, um, who,
who have that support don't necessarily realize, right? And so it's quick to assume that
getting a job is the solution. But there's always so many other factors underneath the surface
that need to be addressed first before they can begin to kind of work themselves up and out of those,
those generational cycles of poverty and trauma and all of those things that they carry with
them that prevent them from, you know, doing what they need to do to improve their quality of life.
Quick review now. People want to give to the food pantry. How do they do it?
Yeah. So we take monetary donations. Those can be dropped off or milled to the Salvation Army.
If you would like, um, to bring in and kind donations of non-perishable items,
those can also be dropped off to the Salvation Army. And our address is 1901 Washington Avenue.
It's the big brown building at the corner of Washington and Phillips. And then we also always
have a need for hygiene items to brushes, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash,
toilet paper, things to help offset the expense that many of our clients experience in having to
make the choice between food or hygiene or rent and hygiene. And so all those donations
can be brought to us and know that they will go directly to those who need them the most.
It's not just this time of year. It's all year. Yes, sir, all year. People need to eat in February.
They need to eat in April. Let me see. Every month there is, and they need clothing in those
months as well. But this time of people tend to be more giving. I don't know why. They just
are. They're in a better mood or whatever. And they think they look at their, you know,
fortunate situation they're in. Okay. And if you want to volunteer for bell ringing, you can go to
register to ring.com, register to ring.com or call 262-632-3147-262-632-3147. Captain Eddie Williams,
Salvation Army. Thank you. Good luck. I hope you can't look at two full and you can't even lift them.
Me too. And look for us November 14th is when we start. So we'll be out ringing bells
up until December 24th. So we look forward to to another successful fundraising season.
I'll be breaking your back lifting women. So heavy. I'm I do too. Thank you, Captain Eddie Williams for
the Salvation Army.