AUGUSTA — Claire Smith on Friday offered the noontime crowd leaving Sam’s Club a friendly smile regardless of whether they reached into their pockets to drop a bit of money into her kettle. Smith was a stranger to most of those who crossed her path, but the organization she represented, the Salvation Army, has become nearly universally known for helping people in their greatest time of need.

But this year it is the Salvation Army that needs a helping hand — one with a bell in it. The Augusta command, which provides services to six communities, including Augusta and Waterville, has fallen behind in its annual fundraising effort because of a shortage of volunteer bell ringers.

Tammy Sumabat, right, chats with a customer last week while collecting donations for the Salvation Army outside Sam’s Club in Augusta. Staff photo by Joe Phelan

“We rely on these funds to help those in need during the holidays as well as all year with our regular social service assistance,” said Lt. Kama Lyle, who runs the Augusta command with her husband, Lt. Joel Lyle. “Without our volunteers we are not able to raise these funds.”

Lyle said the command hopes to raise $80,000 during the bell ringing campaign, but so far the effort has brought in only $15,000. Going into the season, she hoped the command would have raised closer to $30,000 by now to set up the big push during the final week before Christmas.

“You raise a good amount of money” during that push, Lyle said, “but not 75 percent of it.”

The annual kettle campaign is the Salvation Army’s largest fundraiser. Money raised during the campaign helps provide food, clothing and toys for children at Christmas.

Lyle hopes to make up some of the shortfall during the Second Annual Kettle Blitz Day on Dec. 10. The blitz, a one-day competition among Salvation Army corps throughout Northern New England, has a regional goal of $2.1 million. The goal in Maine is $734,000.

“Kettle Blitz Day is intended to draw attention to society’s casualties, individuals and families who are struggling to survive,” Lyle said.

The problem has not been a lack of willing donors, Lyle said. There has been no noticeable drop-off in donations to individual bell ringers, but there have not been enough volunteers to regularly keep those bells ringing.

“When they’re out there, the money is coming in,” Lyle said. “If we don’t have people, we can’t raise the money.”

The shortage is not as acute on Saturdays, when a number of clubs have stepped forward to provide volunteer bell ringers. The Salvation Army does not have bell ringers on Sundays and there has been a dearth of volunteers on weekdays, Lyle said. She said her command has about six paid employees who ring bells 20 to 40 hours per week, but that still leaves most of the command’s 13 locations dependent on volunteers.

“When it gets closer to the holiday, the phone calls start coming in,” Lyle said. “We still need the volunteers the weeks prior to the big push.”

Smith, 55, said she has wanted to be a volunteer bell ringer for years. This year her vacation from a local law firm, where she is a legal secretary, allowed her the opportunity to follow through.

“I’m fortunate to have a great job,” Smith said. “I have a wonderful family. Other people are not so fortunate.”

Smith volunteered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the five days of her vacation. She said her feet were sore after the first day, but shoe inserts helped take care of that. She said she is fortunate that the weather has been relatively warm.

“It’s been a rewarding experience,” Smith said. “People are wonderful.”

If the Augusta command is unable to reach its goal, that will hurt its ability to help those in need throughout the year, Lyle said.

“We push for kids to go to camps, and we try to do that for free; but without these extra funds, it’s possible we’d have to charge a small amount of money,” she said. “It’s used all year round. It would limit what we’d be able to help with.”

Lyle said anyone is encouraged to serve as volunteer bell ringers, even whole families. Volunteers can work a few hours on one day or sign up for a regular shift.

“We’ll take anything,” Lyle said. “If they’re willing and able to donate their time, they can just call the office.”

Not everyone can donate money, Smith said, but most people can spare a few hours.

“There’s so many people out there who can use it,” she said. “You never know when you might be one of the needy rather than one of the giving.”

Smith promised volunteers will receive much more than they give.

“It’s a great experience,” she said. “It makes you appreciate what you’ve got.”

Lyle asked those who wish to volunteer to call the command at 623-3752 and leave a message if there is no answer.

Craig Crosby — 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @CraigCrosby4

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