Salvation Army Bells Won’t Ring Out at Some Sites

As they dusted off their bells and kettles, local Salvation Army officials faced tough challenges for their annual holiday fund-raising appeal starting this week.

The Oxnard/Port Hueneme corps has been deluged with applicants, some of whom may be turning to the charity because the passage of Proposition 187 has steered them away from public agencies.

And officials throughout the county reported trouble securing permission to ring bells at their trademark red kettles or to set up fund-raising stands altogether.

East county workers suffered the biggest shock when the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks, which had allowed a red kettle display for 20 years, decided not to this year.

Cathy Ramsdale, regional director for the Salvation Army’s office in Simi Valley, said the kettle was probably the biggest in Ventura County, bringing in $10,000 last year.

Marketplace officials declined to comment on their decision.

Also, a prime fund-raising spot in Oxnard, the Price Club, has curtailed the hours and banned use of the bell.

Local Salvation Army spokesman Randy Paton said the organization relies on the traditional holiday appeal--including about 47 kettles countywide this year--for a substantial portion of its annual operating budgets, which may face greater demands with the passage of Proposition 187. Altogether, the three offices serving Ventura County hope to raise nearly $200,000 to help 1,750 needy families.

Paton said more malls are choosing not to allow any charity solicitors. “Even though we’ve been doing it over 100 years, though we do it right and do it best, we also pay the price for those who don’t do it well.”

Lt. Fred Morasky of the Oxnard/Port Hueneme corps estimates that full implementation of Proposition 187 could increase his caseload 30% as illegal immigrants seek private help.

Morasky said some Latino applicants for Christmas assistance have been telling the bilingual workers at his office that they’re anxious to get help “before anything hits.”

“They’re afraid,” Morasky said. “The army asks very few questions. We try to protect the identity of the individuals who come to us.”

Paton said the Salvation Army will not discriminate against people who are afraid to go through official channels because army personnel don’t want to risk letting a child go hungry.

“Where do you say no?” he said. “We don’t like to say no.”

The Oxnard/Port Hueneme corps hopes to raise about $60,000 this year--up from $47,000 last year--part of which will be used to give Christmas assistance to at least 500 families. He said the corps has already received 800 applications for help and the phone calls keep mounting.

The army will assist the neediest families and put the others on a waiting list. Officials will also give gift packs to about 1,200 nursing home residents. The packs contain items such as handkerchiefs, toothbrushes and combs.

Morasky said cash-collecting efforts have been hampered slightly by a new national Price Club policy prohibiting bell-ringing and restricting hours of fund-raising. Local store officials have attempted to soften the impact by allowing the Oxnard corps to set up two kettles instead of one starting Monday.

Morasky said his assistants would get around the bell-ringing ban by holding up signs that read “Ding Dong.”

Ramsdale said the Janss Marketplace decision not to allow a kettle is a big blow to her efforts to raise about $70,000 this season. The Salvation Army’s Ventura County Service Extension office, which serves the east county and many other communities, raised about $64,000 last season, some of which went to assist families devastated by the Northridge earthquake.

“That is really a deficit in our budget for Christmas,” she said.

Ramsdale said she can’t assess Proposition 187’s impact on her office because officials will not start taking holiday aid applications until early December. She said there are many underprivileged migrant workers in Piru and Fillmore who may be affected.

As it now stands, officials would like to help about 550 families in the Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks area this holiday season. They are also planning to deliver gift baskets to 500 patients at Camarillo State Hospital and to 3,400 convalescent home patients.

The Ventura corps--which also serves Saticoy, Oak View and Casitas Springs--hopes to raise $70,000 this year, part of which will help deliver holiday cheer to 700 families, 150 more than last year, Lt. Rene Beauchamp said.

Beauchamp said the corps also needs about 2,000 toys and a major store where she can set up an Angel Tree. Under that program, a Christmas tree is festooned with paper angels listing the first names, ages and sexes of needy children. Shoppers pick an angel and donate one or more gift items.

All three Salvation Army offices said they need volunteers and in some cases will be willing to pay for help. Beauchamp said she has had little luck getting bell ringers even though she has offered to pay minimum wage.

To help in the Oxnard/Port Hueneme area, call 483-9235. In the Ventura area, call 648-5031. For other areas, call 527-1070.