VALDOSTA — Donations to this year’s Salvation Army kettle drive exceeded the previous year’s total by $260.10, Capt. Guy Nickum said recently.

The total amount of donations dropped into the red kettles manned by volunteer bell ringers was $43,627.69, he said.

Volunteer participation in this year’s kettle drive by citizens of Valdosta and the surrounding community was the best it has ever been, Nickum said. Even with the foul weather that threw a damper on some of their bell ringing, they still exceeded last year’s total.

“Anytime we can exceed what we did the previous year, it’s a good thing,” Nickum said, “especially with the economy the way it is.”

The campaign ran from Nov. 27 through Dec. 24. Salvation Army kettles were stationed at seven locations: one at Valdosta Mall, two at both Wal-Mart locations, one at Sam’s Club and one in front of the Winn-Dixie store at 5 Points, he said.

Nickum said this is the first year members of Valdosta’s city government, e.g. the city manager, city council members, etc., took a full day to ring the bell at Winn Dixie, according to his advisory board.

“To have the support of the city, the local community and the different churches really meant a lot,” he said.

All the money raised during the campaign will be put back into the local community, he said.

“We’d like to give our heartfelt thanks to all the Salvation Army supporters who rang the bell, helped with toy distribution, store managers, donors and others. With their continued support, we’ll continue to honor our promise of doing the most good for those in the most need throughout the year,” he said.

There has been a Salvation Army kettle drive in Valdosta ever since the Salvation Army first came to the area in 1924, Nickum said.

The Salvation Army bell ringing tradition was started in 1891 by Capt. Joseph McFee, who felt a need to feed the hungry that Christmas.

McFee put out a crab pot at the Oakland ferry landing and rang a bell, becoming the first in a long line of Salvation Army bell ringers.

For more information or to make a donation, call (229) 242-6440, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or visit the Salvation Army office at 320 Smithland Place.