Photo by Deb Gau Jack Hennen greets people outside the Marshall Hy-Vee last week. Hennen was a longtime bell-ringer for the Salvation Army red kettle campaign, and he came back for one last shift.

MARSHALL — Shoppers headed in and out of the Marshall Hy-Vee last week could hear the familiar ringing of bells by the red Salvation Army kettle by the door. And for quite a few shoppers, the bell-ringer was a familiar face, too.

Jack Hennen, 87, took short breaks from bell-ringing for a hug or a chat with people he knew. Meeting people was part of the fun of the job.

“And I like to help a good cause,” he said.

Hennen estimated he had volunteered to ring a bell for the Lyon County Salvation Army red kettle campaign for a total of about 15 or 16 years. Hennen stopped ringing for the kettle campaign about four years ago, but on Wednesday he was out of retirement, so to speak, for one last shift.

“It was hard to stop doing something you enjoy doing,” Hennen said.

Area kettle campaign organizers say that volunteers like Hennen help to make the event special.

“We really cherish all the bell ringers we have,” whether they’re experienced or new, said Dennis Ozmun, scheduling coordinator for the red kettle campaign in Lyon County. “It matters quite a bit when people come forward and are willing to give of their time.”

Area volunteers like Hennen, and retired priest Paul Schumacher, said they enjoyed being bell-ringers, even though they have different levels of experience. Schumacher was a bell-ringer for the first time in November.

“It was brand-new for me,” he said. Schumacher said he was struck by the number of people he saw coming in and out of Ace Home and Hardware in Marshall in just the hour he volunteered. He was also happy to see the response the kettle campaign received from people.

“I was delightfully surprised how friendly the people were,” he said. He would greet shoppers, and they would say hello back. Schumacher estimated that more than half of the people he saw donated to the red kettle, and one even went out to his vehicle in the parking lot and came back with a donation.

“To me, it was a great experience. It was a great affirmation of humanity,” Schumacher said.

Hennen said over the years, he had volunteered as a bell-ringer at different sites in Marshall.

“I tried it at Shopko, but I liked Hy-Vee better,” he said. Last week, Hennen sat by the doors of the supermarket, ringing a bell he brought with him.

“I found it at the thrift store,” he said.

Hennen said part of what he enjoyed about bell-ringing was getting to meet and say hello to people. Plus, he said, “I stayed out of mischief that way.” It was also fun to help support the cause.

“People are generous when they see you,” he said of being a bell-ringer.

Hennen said in the past few years it had gotten hard for him to keep volunteering. He urged new recruits to come join future kettle campaigns.

“Somebody will have to take my place,” he said.

Ozmun said the list of bell-ringing volunteers in the county had shrunk this year, but there were some new volunteers as well.

“What really excites me this year is the schools,” Ozmun said. Groups from Marshall High School, like the football team and the Honor Society, signed up to ring bells this year. Other volunteers have included members of area hockey teams, and Special Olympians.

Ozmun said it was a “big thrill” for him to see how excited people were after volunteering. Campaign organizers were also thankful for all the donations made by area residents, he said. A total of 88% of kettle donations stay in Lyon County to help provide emergency assistance to families and children.

The red kettle campaign runs through Dec. 24 in Lyon County.