Colorful Hair on the Line in Red Kettle Challenge

Each year, volunteers ring bells throughout Waukesha County to raise funds for the and this year, style is on the line for officials with the non-profit organization.

Majors Ron and Carol Lemirand have accepted the “George Wang Challenge” and will dye their hair purple if the campaign reaches $500,000 this season. The goal was set earlier this year at $400,000.

“Thought you'd enjoy laughing and recruiting donors and bell ringers just to see us,” states an e-mail from Carol Lemirand.

Consider signing up today at www.waukeshasalvationarmy.org   

It takes nearly 16,000 volunteer bell ringers to fill all the time slots and locations available throughout Waukesha County, including Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Sussex, Muskego, Mukwonago, and New Berlin from Nov. 4 through Dec. 24. Locations include Piggly Wiggly, Pick’N Save, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Waukesha State Bank, Sentry, Shopko, Sendik’s Fine Foods, Walgreen’s, Sam’s Club, Gander Mountain, JC Penny’s, and Sears.

Money raised during the Christmas Fundraising of 2010 provided the following:

• 12,931 nights of shelter to homeless men  
• 312 orders for prescriptions or clothing  
• 4,904 bags of groceries to families in need 
• 5,172 hygiene and personal care items   
• 67 families were given utility assistance  
• 15,784 free hot meals 
• 6,830 sack lunches to during summer months 
• 1,756 backpacks of weekend food in the
• 4,660  toys to children in need at Christmas
• 253 food baskets to low in come seniors and individuals with disabilities
• 1,600 backpacks with the
• 67 campers to The Salvation Army camp in East Troy
• 44 youth attended the summer Day Camp
• 45 youth participated in after school programs