Five burning questions for bell ringing firefighter
The Salvation Army loves firefighters, and for two main reasons: 1. Their service. 2. They raise sizzling amounts of money by ringing bells during the holidays.
Firefighters typically raise three times more money per hour than any other volunteer group. They often collect the donations in black boots instead of red kettles (pictured).
“One time my boot was overflowing – I almost had to take off my own boot to replace it,” said 60-year-old firefighter Bob Kipples (pictured at top), a 24-year veteran of the St. Paul Fire Department.
Minneapolis firefighters are used to their boots overflowing with money as well. A couple years ago, they helped raise nearly $40,000 during “Buck the Boot,” an all-day ringing event in downtown Minneapolis (see photos) that has been going on for decades.
St. Paul firefighters have their own Salvation Army traditions, including ringing at Grand Meander, an annual holiday shopping event along Grand Ave. in St. Paul. Kipples will be ringing for two shifts at this year’s Grand Meander, which will be held all day on Saturday, Dec. 3. All kettle donations made at Grand Meander will be matched by Deluxe.
Earlier this week, Kipples answered five questions about the connection between firefighters and The Salvation Army, why he supports us and – on a separate note – whether he has ever rescued a puppy from a burning building.
How long has the St. Paul Fire Department been supporting the Twin Cities Salvation Army? How did you first get involved?
I took over leading our efforts in 2000, but it’s been a tradition since the 1950s or 1960s. The Salvation Army is there for us, so we like to be there for them.
The Salvation Army supports St. Paul firefighters by serving them food and drinks during fires and other emergencies. How helpful is this?
The Salvation Army usually shows up for second-alarm fires or bigger ones. You provide hot drinks when it’s cold outside, and cold drinks when it’s warm. One time you served White Castle burgers; that was pretty popular. On these bigger calls, our only other option would be to hang out at the fire chief’s vehicle and drink water. To have something more substantial is very helpful and we appreciate it.
How many times does the St. Paul Fire Department respond in a given year?
We have 15 fire stations in St. Paul. Last year we made about 42,000 runs. So far this year, we’ve made 40,100 runs. About 90 percent of these are medical. The most common cause of fires is unattended cooking. People put something on the stove and then forget about it.
Have you ever rescued a puppy from a burning building?
No, but I did rescue a cat one time. The family was so thankful that they invited me over for dinner. These days, we have special oxygen masks for pets. The masks come in different sizes for smaller and larger animals.
In addition to ringing at Grand Meander, St. Paul firefighters also ring before select Minnesota Wild games and at various shopping centers. What do you like most about bell ringing?
You see examples of giving that are inspiring. When I used to ring at Lunds & Byerlys in Highland Park, the kids who helped carry groceries to people’s cars – kids who were earning next to nothing – would donate their tip money. Other times, I’d be ringing in downtown St. Paul, and homeless people would donate money they’d earned from panhandling. I personally look forward to ringing every year. The people are so nice. They thank you for what you’re doing and for your service.
The bell ringing season is in full swing now through Saturday, Dec. 24. Please sign up to volunteer today in Minnesota and North Dakota. Just two hours of ringing at a kettle raises an average of $60 for The Salvation Army.