Salvation Army bell-ringers shatter fundraising goal in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch’s Jane Imperiale was thrilled to report that her crew of Salvation Army bell-ringers smashed their goal of collecting $10,000 at the Lakewood Ranch Publix at University Parkway and Lorraine Road this holiday season.

With two days remaining in their two-week schedule at Publix, Imperiale and crew had raised $14,000. She estimated that $16,000 appeared to be possible. She had assembled a team of 116 ringers this season.

“I think word got out at Lakewood Ranch Country Club, and now it’s just the right thing to do to sign up and ring at least once every Christmas,” Imperiale said.

She said one of the keys was that the pickleball players in the Country Club became involved. In the past she had concentrated on recruiting golfers for the effort.

She said one group of 10 ringers (two every two-hour shift from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) collected $2,980 in one day, a record for her crew.

“They were overjoyed,” she said.

The previous best season for a crew assembled by Imperiale was $7,224 in 2022.

“My goal is to get ringers for 18 days in 2024,” she said. “That is a big jump from the four days we collected in 2020. Our gang of ringers outdid themselves this year with their holiday outfits. A lot of them brought their dogs, which really helped. We got people smiling with our music and dancing.”

Imperiale’s first year of ringing in 2020 saw 16 ringers work over the four days, collecting $3,709. In 2021 she organized 42 ringers and in 2022 she had 44 ringers. This year saw an explosion of volunteers.

She said all the money raised is distributed by the Salvation Army within this region.

Those who want to get on the team for next year can send an email to [email protected].