CONCORD — New Hampshire legislators do more than just make laws. They sometimes make money as well–for charities.

That Granite State lawmakers make $100 a year is well-known. Less known may be the fact that these solons often come together in the spirit of bipartisanship to raise money for worthy causes. An example would be the Salvation Army bellringing initiative that takes place annually in Concord in front of the Storrs Street State Liquor Store. State representatives and state senators do one hour shifts all day long ringing silver bells and inviting donations to assist the Salvation Army with its many charitable works.

The 2024 effort will go from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on December 21 at the usual location and this time will include a non-legislator: Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte.

“We’ve raised almost $15,000 over the past few years for the Salvation Army,” said Senator Tim Lang (R-Sanbornton), a prime mover behind the bell ringing effort.

Lang is a founder of the Legislative Beer Caucus, a group of lawmakers who work hard at networking and socializing. Other founders include Senator Howard Pearl and Representative Mike Moffett, both of Loudon, as well as former Representative Reed Panasiti of Amherst. The caucus includes around three dozen current and former legislators.

The Beer Caucus has its origins in 2017 in the wake of the Washington D.C. shooting attack on congressmen practicing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game. A N.H. Legislative Softball Classic pitting Democrats against Republicans was organized to take place at the Anheuser Busch Brewery in Merrimack. It raised around $10,000 for Liberty House, a Manchester facility which assists homeless veterans.

Several more Softball Classics followed and then in 2023 the Beer Caucus revived the Legislative Golf Classic which brought Democrats and Republicans together on the Loudon Country Club links to raise almost $25,000 for Liberty House.

“Our motto is ‘We have fun and we get things done,'” explained Lang. “We’re hoping to see a lot of folks come by and donate on December 21. Lawmaking may start in January but fun-making is a year-round endeavor for the Beer Caucus.”