Local Red Kettle Campaign director gears up for a season of giving
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
The familiar, cheerful sound of the Salvation Army’s Red Kettles will soon echo across McKenzie County, and this year, a new face is taking the lead. Kayla Ruby has officially stepped into the role of Red Kettle Campaign Coordinator for McKenzie County, succeeding the venerated Gene Heck.
For Ruby, who has long participated in the annual fundraiser as a family tradition, coordinating the campaign felt like a natural progression. “Me and my family, we’ve been doing long-term Red Kettle over the years,” Ruby explained. “It felt natural to step in because I’m already doing it.” Ruby acknowledges the challenge of following in the footsteps of her predecessor, Gene Heck, who was instrumental in building the campaign’s success. “After learning everything that he did within McKenzie County, I don’t know how he could do all that himself,” Ruby said. “There are some big shoes to fill for sure.” Ruby was quick to acknowledge Heck’s contributions and noted that he generously offered to guide her in this new role, saying, “He’s only a phone call away.”
The 2025 Red Kettle Campaign is scheduled to run from November 28 through December 31. Ruby’s biggest priority for the season is recruiting volunteers to staff the kettles. She is actively seeking out families, youth groups, and local organizations to volunteer, encouraging them to embrace the spirit of giving. “It’s usually a two-hour shift. It’s pretty low key,” Ruby stated, describing the simple process of picking up the kettle bag at a location like Cash Wise and ringing the bell.
She hopes to use a new Facebook page to make sign-up easier and reach a broader audience, encouraging groups to organize a day of volunteering. “I think it’d be easy to get [the schedule] filled up if we inform them,” she said, suggesting that perhaps local youth groups could each take on a day. Ruby also emphasized the joy of volunteering. “I think [the volunteers] feel joy. When you see little kids ringing the bell, all smiling and dancing, like they make it fun for everybody.”
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