The annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign started up again 10 days ago, and University of Wisconsin students are donating their time to help.

The campaign, which officially began Nov 16., consists of volunteer bell-ringers standing by red kettles.

The Red Kettle Campaign started in San Francisco in 1891 as a way of raising money outside of a soup kitchen, Dane County Salvation Army Coordinator Paul Moore said. 

"Somebody had the idea of putting a kettle outside, and the idea was to keep the pot boiling," Moore said.

Two members of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity — UW senior Robby Weyker and UW sophomore Eric Rooker — volunteered their time at the kettle outside Walgreens on State Street last week.

Weyker said bell ringing is a way to fulfill the 10 required community service hours he and other members of his fraternity must complete each year.

"This is my second year bell-ringing," he said. "It has become a tradition."

Weyker said everyone on State Street seemed to be very generous.

"State Street is a prime area for bell-ringing; people have been giving us quite a few bills," Weyker said.

Rooker agreed, adding people on State Street respond well to the red kettle.

"We've gotten a lot of positive responses," Rooker said. "Everyone who drops something in the bucket has a smile on their face."

Weyker also offered some tips for anyone who is considering bell-ringing for the holiday season.

"Look approachable," he said. "Nonverbals are huge, so smile and nod a lot, and make sure you say 'thank you.'"

Weyker said he prefers not to sing carols when he is bell ringing, although other ringers often entertain by singing holiday tunes.

"I have a terrible singing voice; it would scare people away," he said.

The money donated during the Red Kettle Campaign funds the Salvation Army programs run in Dane County, Moore said.

"We have 31 separate programs, like tutoring for elementary- and middle school-aged students, case management for homeless families, a food pantry and a family shelter that can house 150 people a night," Moore said.

He added the amount of donations people give during the bell-ringing campaign has grown over the years.

"It's typical for most locations, including State Street, to make between $3,000 and $5,000 each season," Moore said.

According to the Salvation Army, a kettle that is tended by a bell-ringer brings in an average of $40 to $100 per hour and in 2006, more than 1,750 volunteers collected a total of $438,000.

"How much money the kettles make really all rests on the volunteers," Moore said. "A kettle without a bell-ringer won't get any donations."

The Salvation Army's annual campaign will run until Dec. 24. Individuals willing to ring bells around Dane County can sign up on the Salvation Army’s website at www.ringbells.org.