Gazette file photo Alexandra Huotari and D’Andra Kero. of the Hancock Interact Club ring bells for the Salvation Army last Christmas season. This year's campaign is beginning.

HANCOCK – The Salvation Army’s Bread of Life Center is beginning its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign Nov. 21 which will run until Dec. 24.

The SA says there is a critical need for donations this season, partially due to the suspension of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The suspension of the program forced many families to choose between groceries, rent and utility bills.

The Salvation Army building in Hancock is no longer considered a church. Now the Bread of Life Center, operated by the Salvation Army, it offers emergency assistance for those most in need. They help with food, transportation, utilities and other financial emergencies. They also help people navigate the social services system. The Salvation Army offices are open Monday – Thurs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pete Mackin, director of the Salvation Army Bread of Life Center, said the Christmas Kettle Campaign is his organization’s only annual fundraiser. “What physically goes in my kettle is literally what I have each year to assist people,” Mackin said. “I get donations that are designated for food or designated for other things, but primarily I’m literally, directly, helping somebody turn the lights back on, get into a house, get a bus ticket to a recovery center, put food on the table – that’s the kettle money.”

Rhoda Clark, office assistant at the Salvation Army, said there will be kettles at nine locations in northern Houghton County:

• Calumet: Pat’s Foods

• Hancock: Pat’s Foods

• Houghton: Festival Foods, Jim’s Foodmart, Swift’s Hardware, Tadych’s Market Place, Walgreens, and Walmart

• Lake Linden: Louie’s Fresh Market

Mackin said as with every year in the past, volunteers are always welcome and needed. For a number years, the organization paid some bell ringers to man the kettles, but stopped that in 2024. “Last year was our first year having having all volunteers,” Mackin said. “We no longer have paid bell ringers.”

Mackin said he found there were plenty of volunteers and community groups that want to ring bells, but if some is good, more is better. “We do need volunteers,” he said. “People can register to volunteer ring.com. and register your group, or as a single volunteer.”

Mackin said Mark Plichta, a volunteer himself, is chairing the Kettle Campaign. “He has a couple of really good fundraisers with the local schools and various community groups doing things like kettle competitions.”

People can also call the office at 906-482-3420.