Urgent Need: Bell Ringers And Toy Donations In Rochester

In December, hundreds of kids are in need of gifts and empty red kettles are sitting at a lot of stores throughout Southeast Minnesota.  Stepping up to fill these needs are just 2 of the simple ways you can give back and spread joy this Christmas season in the Rochester, Minnesota area.  Check out the full list of ways to help below...including one that is completely free!

Step Up To The Minnesota Red Kettle Challenge

And here's a fun extra challenge to try this year - every time you walk by a red kettle, drop a few coins or some dollars into the bucket.  You can find red kettles throughout Rochester, Byron, Chatfield, and Stewartville.  Donations to the red kettles help support the health, housing, and human services programs in Olmsted County by the Salvation Army.

Now Sign Up to Ring Bells! - There is a time and a location for everyone to ring bells and your time spent at the kettles helps raise an average of $100 per hour in support of health, housing, and human services programs at The Salvation Army in Olmsted County.  Get signed up to register to ring at registertoring.com.

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Step Up To The Toy and Joy Challenge in Minnesota

This year, with the economic issues happening in our community, about 1,500 children in Olmsted County need strangers to step up to help make Christmas happen for them.  Here's how to help:

• Right now at both Walmart stores in Rochester, you can find an angel tree at each door.  These will be up until December 15th and on those trees are tags that indicate the needs of specific kids in our area.
• Check out the toy collection location for the toy shop at the Apache Mall.  The Sharing Tree is set up where items can be brought for kids in our community.
• This year's toy distribution will take place on Wednesday, December 21, and Thursday, December 22, and we need all the volunteers we can recruit. If you are interested in volunteering to shop with parents for Christmas presents, or to help us keep the toy shop display stocked with gifts, please email rebecca.snapp@usc.salvationarmy.org.