Photo provided by Pete Mackin Volunteers use one of the Salvation Army’s red kettles to collect donations at Walmart in Houghton last December.

HANCOCK — The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign begins Friday. According to Director Pete Machin, funds raised by the campaign stay local and support the activities of The Salvation Army (TSA) Bread of Life Center in Downtown Hancock. Mackin said the campaign is vital to TSA locally. “This annual collection is our major fundraising event locally and generates our HELP budget for the entire year.”

The history of the Red Kettle Campaign in Michigan is an extension of the national campaign, which began in 1891 in San Francisco. It has since become the major annual fundraiser in Michigan, supporting local programs and services like those provided by TSA — Bread of Life Pantry, utility assistance, navigation of services, shelter, transportation and counseling.

Rhoda Clark, office assistant at the Bread of Life Center, explained the inception of the Red Kettle Campaign. “In 1891, Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee wanted to feed 1,000 hungry individuals in San Francisco during the holidays and was unsure of how to raise funds to buy food.” Clark said Captain McFee recalled that in Liverpool, England there was a large, iron kettle called “Simpson’s Pot” into which passers-by tossed a coin or two to help the poor.

“The next day Captain McFee placed a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing at the foot of Market Street in San Francisco. Beside the pot, he placed a sign that read, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” He soon had the money to see that the needy people were properly fed at Christmas. That’s how the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign began”.

With this season’s campaign set to begin, TSA is on the hunt for people affectionally known as “Ding-A-Lings,” to ring bells at the local kettles. Mark Plichta, TSA volunteer, said anyone is invited to be a bell ringer, “although children under a certain age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To become an official ding-a-ling please go to ‘RegisterToRing.com’ or call Rhoda at 906-482-3420 to sign up for a two-hour shift at any of the nine sites.”

Plichta said TSA is starting something new this year. Bell ringing groups that have already been secured are challenging each other to “Raise the Most Money in order to Do the Most Good.” The first of these good-natured competitions is set to begin Saturday and will feature local student athletes. Bulldogs from Hancock High School will be at Walmart in Houghton while Copper Kings from Calumet High School will be at Pat’s IGA in Calumet.

“Due to scheduling conflicts both Houghton and Lake Linden-Hubbell High Schools could not start this Saturday” Plichta said. “However, as soon as we have them scheduled, we will inform the community. In any event, get out and support your favorite team.”

Other competitions will take place between community service organizations, such as the Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, Eagles and Angel Mission to name a few. The first ringers will be from the Chassell Lions Club at Marketplace in Houghton Friday. “If you have or know of another group or service organization that would like to participate in these challenges, call TSA at 482-3420 and we will organize a full-day of ringing (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at your favorite site on your selected day.

Winners of the various competitions will be announced and then invited to the Awards Dinner with “fabulous prizes,” to be held sometime in May. “At that time, challenges for the 2026 Red Kettle campaign ‘smackdown’ will be initiated, teams gathered, individuals trained, and strategies determined,” Plichat said.

The Salvation Army’s staff and volunteers want to thank both the ringers and those who made financial donations for the support they have shown all throughout the year. “We promise to continue to serve our neighbors in need and to share with you our stories of progress, our present needs, and our hopes for future collaborations with existing service agencies,”Mackin said.

The Salvation Army’s office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. The Bread of Life Emergency Pantry is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., located at 408 Ravine Street in Hancock