Santa Claus isn't the only figure clad in red to make a scheduled appearance around the holidays.

Salvation Army bell ringers, decked out in their trademark red aprons, can usually be seen standing on sidewalks and near storefronts with red kettles and bells collecting spare change from passers-by. However, the Salvation Army sends no bell ringers to Marquette's campus during the holidays.

According to Jamey Shiels, spokesman for the Milwaukee chapter of the Salvation Army, Marquette could see bell ringers in the future, but because there have not been any in the past, it hasn't added any to the campus.

"It's a new area we haven't looked at in the past. We just haven't asked," Shiels said. "We just got a new kettle operations manager and he hasn't had a chance to pursue those avenues yet, but it's not a bad idea because there are thousands upon thousands of students moving through there."

Although there are no bell ringers on Marquette's campus, there are many throughout the Milwaukee area.

"In the greater Milwaukee area we have over 100 locations," Shiels said. "The closest place we have to (Marquette) is" the Shops of Grand Avenue mall, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave.

The bell ringers are typically outside of busy national chain stores because the Salvation Army is a national organization.

"We have a national agreement with a lot of chain stores," Shiels said. "If it's a local store we ask the managers and see if they're comfortable with it. It really depends on the stores if they let us."

The holidays are an important time for the Salvation Army because the bell ringers are its main annual fundraiser.

"All the money that's collected is used to fund the Salvation Army," Shiels said. "It brings in 80 percent of our budget for the whole year."

Funds raised during this time go to many of the Salvation Army's operations throughout the year.

"Locally, we have an emergency lodge that supplies shelter, case work and education," Shiels said. "We have feeding programs, especially in the summer. The money goes to a lot of the social service programs in the Milwaukee community."