Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On Saturday Albert Lea’s Masons from Western Star Lodge No. 26 will ring bells to assist Albert Lea’s Salvation Army Citadel in fundraising for 2025.

The Masons have been bell ringing annually for many years. They dubbed their efforts as the Jake Loper Memorial Bell Ringing Event to honor their brother who spearheaded this annual fundraiser. Albert Lea’s Shrine Club would organize Shriners and Masons from Western Star Lodge No. 26 to see if they could help with the Albert Lea community needs during the Christmas season.

While the Salvation Army has secured matching funds for the donations this year, the Masons will also secure matching funds for all the donations they receive. In effect, every dollar they receive on Saturday will receive three times its value with the matching funds. The organization encourages donors to triple their gifts by assisting with donations Saturday.

They will be ringing at Hy-Vee and at Bomgaars from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

They thanked the many donors who make this drive successful with a special thanks to Editor Sarah Stultz and the Albert Lea Tribune and KATE Radio Party Line, who help spread information about the effort.