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Salvation Army bell ringer dedicates his life to helping people

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – The Salvation Army of Lafayette is significantly behind on its fundraising goal so far this holiday season, but volunteers are not losing faith. One bell ringer is dedicated his life to helping local organizations.

“I just like to help people,” Jack Ruckel said.

Helping people is something Ruckel does year-round.

“I stay busy since I retired,” he said. “I don’t know how I had time to work.”

The 79-year-old stays in good shape and keeps a pretty busy schedule. But he said the holiday season is when he’s busiest.

“Need has no season,” he said.

From November to Christmas Eve, Ruckel volunteers as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign.

“I’ll do it until I can’t do it,” he said.

Ruckel’s been wearing the blue apron and ringing the golden bell for almost a decade. But he said he hasn’t always been this giving.

“I gave my life to Christ 50 years ago. I was 29 years old and involved in alcohol and everything,” he said. “I gave my life to Christ, and he transformed me.”

A transformed life with a mission to help people has become his motto. Ruckel said he won’t stop ringing the bell until you see his name in an obituary.

Organizers with the Salvation Army said they could use more volunteers like Ruckel. A small donation of money or your time can go a long way toward creating a better community.

“Our current overall Christmas goal for this year is $310,000,” Lt. Steven Dahl said. “At this point, we’re just about a week and a half away from our halfway goal, and we are about a little over a quarter to almost halfway there but not quite.”

Donations made to the Red Kettle Campaign benefit many people in the Greater Lafayette community. The campaign helps with utility assistance, general social services, food pantries, family shelters and much more.

There are multiple ways to donate or give back. If you would like to volunteer to ring a bell at one of the red kettles, click here.

As always, donations can be placed inside any of the various red kettles set up around the community. You can also donate online by clicking here.

The red kettles will be out until Christmas Eve, but donations will be accepted until Dec. 31.