The Salvation Army in upstate New York needs a few good volunteers to coordinate Red Kettle bellringers in their rural and suburban communities.

The job of the local volunteer coordinator is to help find teams and individuals to ring the bells during the Red Kettle campaign which begins in November. During the campaign, the coordinator also ensures that teams and individuals have the kettles at the times they are scheduled to ring and that the kettles are returned to the coordinator.

The Salvation Army is also beginning to schedule bellringers throughout upstate. To volunteer to coordinate or to ring the bells, call The Red Kettle Center toll free at 1-877-764-7259, or sign up online.

A Service Unit is a volunteer committee that provides services in smaller communities where there are no Salvation Army facilities. There are 170 Service Units in the 48 Upstate New York counties.

Among the services provided through these volunteer committees are food, clothing and furniture vouchers; assistance with prescriptions, glasses, utilities, and rent; scholarships for students who need assistance, and summer camperships for local children. Each Service Unit determines its focus of service based on the perceived needs of the community.

“We are already experiencing greater demand for services in the local communities,” noted Ann Vail, Salvation Army Service Unit coordinator. “We seriously need volunteers who will assist in raising the funds that are critical in helping local families.”

 Rod Ballengee, a Salvation Army field representative, said the following service units in his area need kettle coordinators:

ALLEGANY COUNTY: Andover Service Unit.

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY: Cattaraugus, Gowanda, Little Valley, and Salamanca Service Units.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY: Avon and Geneseo Service Units.

JEFFERSON COUNTY: Alexandria Bay and Philadelphia Service Units.

WYOMING COUNTY: Aracade Service Unit.

Rick Damore, a Salvation Army field representative, said the following service units in his area need kettle coordinators:

DELAWARE COUNTY: Sidney Service Unit.

GREENE COUNTY: Hunter-Tannersville Service Unit.

HERKIMER COUNTY: Little Falls Service Unit.

ONEIDA COUNTY: Boonville Service Unit.

OTSEGO COUNTY: Cooperstown Service Unit.

Lt. Col. Ernest Payton, Salvation Army field representative, said service units in his area needing kettle coordinators include:

CHENANGO COUNTY: New Berlin, Sherburne and Bainbridge Service Units.

Maj. George Payton, Salvation Army field representative, said service units needing kettle coordinators in his area include:

ONTARIO COUNTY: Phelps and Shortsville-Manchester Service Units.

WAYNE COUNTY: Clyde-Savannah, Williamson, Macedon, Palmyra and Lyons Service Units.