SALT LAKE CITY — The familiar sound of bells ringing beside bright red kettles has long signaled the Christmas season, encouraging shoppers to pause and give. But this year, the chorus of bells is quieter, as the Salvation Army faces a shortage of volunteer bell ringers.

This year, only a third of Salvation Army kettle locations are staffed with volunteers, leaving many bells silent across the state, according to organizers.

“We actually have 55 locations, but on average our volunteerism is down quite a bit,” said Major Keith Bottjen of the Salvation Army. “We only have maybe 15 a day that are even covered, and we’re not sure why… but we could really use the help with that.”

Since 1891, the Red Kettle Campaign has been a symbol of holiday generosity, funding programs that provide ut

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