SIDNEY -- The famous red kettles of the Salvation Army are out in the Sidney. 

Diane Nielsen, who also works at the Salvation Army store in Sidney, outlined when bell-ringing volunteers will be out in Sidney.

"We ring bells on Saturdays, the first Saturday after Thanksgiving to the last Saturday before Christmas. We start at 9 in the morning and run until 4 in the afternoon in hour increments. We have three locations: Bomgaars, Walmart and Sonny's," said Nielsen.  

All of the proceeds raised in Cheyenne County remain in Cheyenne County, she said. She said the bell-ringing account helps people needing medicines, rent assistance, utility assistance and they have a food bank.

The tradition of bell-ringing and red kettles for the Salvation Army fund-riasing effort has a history of more than a century. It started in the late 1800s when the red kettle was introduced in San Francisco to raise funds to feed 1,000 poor and destitute Christmas Dinner in 1891. Bell-ringing was started a year later.