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This point every year is traditionally one of the Salvation Army’s most important periods of time. It’s during the holiday season that they are imparting the most impact for those in need.

However, to do that they also need the support of the community and again, traditionally, they have received that support through its Red Kettle Program.

“Our goal this year is $75,000 and we really want to meet that goal,” said Captain John Woodard. “It helps with salaries, but we take some of that money and put into our programming and supplement the grants that we apply for so we can make sure we don’t run out of funding for those programs.”

Already, the Salvation Army has been able to get a jump on the season with one location up and running at Walmart.

The kickoff for the drive, however, will be on Nov. 29 during Austin’s Hometown Christmas where it will have a kettle set up as part of festivities.

“Just to make sure people understand and know this is the time for our big fundraiser,” Woodard said.

While the Red Kettle is just one of several things the Salvation Army has going on during this busy time of year, which includes its Angel Tree program, it is perhaps its most visible fundraiser, with around seven to eight locations set up once the drive is running full out.

For Woodard, his wife and fellow captain, Faith and their entire family, this has been a tradition that has run generationally.

“My father was a bell-ringer. He sang on the bell ringing,” Woodard said. “It’s a part of our family. It’s a part of who we are and has been for years. Generations actually in our families. That’s a tradition we want to promote every single year.”

In a lot of ways, the sound of the bell ringing in the hands of the volunteers is a call. A call to action and a call to learn more, Woodard said.

“The bell-ringing itself just came,” he said. “It’s a call out to people instead of waiting for people to come up from the parking lot.”

Personally, Woodard said it’s a chance to connect with people.

“It’s getting to know the people. It’s getting to interact with them, talk with them about the Salvation Army’s mission and what we’re about,” he explained, adding it’s also a chance to help offer something spiritual as well. “We want to help the family unit and we want to promote that. That’s another outreach we want to do if people want to discuss that. It’s not just about getting money or getting donations. It’s about that interaction with the community and how we can benefit them and help them and get to know us.”

That first hand experience is also key, because it leads to an understanding at just how important the bell-ringers themselves are.

Woodard explained that there is an 80% chance to be no donation when the kettle isn’t being manned by a volunteer. That number reverses to 90% chance of receiving a donation when somebody is ringing the bell.

This year, the Salvation Army is still looking for volunteers to fill the nearly 2,000 hours needed to reach its $75,000 goal. Woodard added that he’s buoyed by the fact that Austin has a reputation for not only giving, but giving of its time.

“This community has been very good at volunteering and signing up at www.registertoring.com,” he said. “The response from this community is really good.”

The bell-ringing itself can have a family feel to it as well.

“It promotes a lot for the family,” Woodard said. “We encourage families to do this. I’ve heard a lot of people respond to children going out with their mother and father; being with them and ringing the bell. That family is what I really like to see. There’s a lot of people that have traditionally done this every single year. It’s wonderful to see them come back and give back in that manner. It’s a good way to get into the Christmas spirit, as they say.”

With everything considered, Woodard said there is something for both the bell-ringer and the donator during the holiday season and that it works together with the mission of what the Salvation Army is hoping to accomplish.

The better of the community. The betterment of souls.

“Our mission is to help people and meet people where they are and  help them with life’s essentials,” Woodard said. “It trickles down right into this community and what that tradition and what that focus is and why it lasts for so long and why people keep coming back to support the Salvation Army.”

“A lot of people have talked to me,” he continued. “I want to donate to the Salvation Army because that’s what the Bible says to do. That’s why we’re here where we are.”