Goat rings Salvation Army bell to help bring in donations

PUEBLO, Colo. (KOAA) – It’s pretty common to find bell ringers outside stores during the holidays, collecting money for the Salvation Army.

One bell ringer in Colorado, however, is quite different from all of the others.

Pongo is a 3-year-old goat who has been ringing bells for the Salvation Army in Colorado City since 2023.

Nan Hassey, Pongo’s handler, said he takes his job very seriously.

“Sometimes when I ring the bell, he gets jealous,” she said. “And yeah, so he’s a good bell ringer. He’s better than I am.”

This year, for the first time, he is visiting Tractor Supply Co. in Pueblo to spread holiday cheer in a whole new town.

He’s ringing for a bigger cause than he could know.

“It’s very important for us to spread the love around and to make sure that there is generosity going to those most in need,” Hassey said.

Every clang of the bell means more help for families in southern Colorado as the Salvation Army collects food, clothing and emergency support, rent assistance and utility assistance, according to Randy Stokes, Captain of the Salvation Army Pueblo.

“Food is a great need here,” Randy Stokes said. “We have 72 children that attend Head Start in our building that is 100% free for them.”

Stokes also said the Salvation Army has gradually had to scale back its Christmas program, at one point only serving children up to age 12.

“I couldn’t imagine a 13- and 15-year-old being at home and being told, ‘We can’t afford Christmas for you,’ but your 9-year-old sibling has Christmas,” he said.

The Salvation Army relies on donations and volunteering to help make the difference.

“We were able to raise the age back up, we’re doing up to 18 in school,” Stokes said.

Pongo is helping to seal the deal, as many in Colorado City and Pueblo chose to donate because of the remarkable goat.

Since 2023, Hassey and Pongo have averaged more than $1,000 in donations to the Salvation Army mission.

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