Who’s that masked man performing for a good cause? State Rep. David Young, disguised as Freddy Krueger, in 2023. (Photo: Salvation Army) By Steve Dinnen When he’s not busy putting out fires, Des Moines Fire Chief John TeKippe has been known to jump into a green frog costume and belt out a show tune on the stage at Hoyt Sherman Place. Turns out, Hopper can really sing. So can Mr. Potato Head, Clawdia the Lobster, Happy Hippo and an expanding cast of costumed characters who entertain crowds at “Unmasking the Singer,” a lighthearted fundraiser for the Salvation Army. It’s a local take on “The Masked Singer” on TV.This year’s “Unmasking the Singer” event, hosted by Steve Berry, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 22 at Hoyt Sherman Place. (Admission is $30, with VIP tickets for $100.)Here’s how it works: The Salvation Army recruits local celebrities to perform in costume. Folks in the audience don’t know who’s inside that penguin outfit or spooky Michael Myers mask, but they can vote for their favorites by scanning a QR code in their programs. Each scan counts as one vote and costs $1.These are not exactly karaoke performances, but they feature the performers’ own voices. Each competitor performs to a song he or she prerecorded, since the masks tend to muffle the sound. Apparently, it can be hard to make yourself understood if you’re wearing a Hunny Bunny costume.A panel of judges oversees the fun and offers some color commentary. At the end of the program, after all the votes are counted, the winning singer takes off his or her mask to reveal his or her identity. The 2023 winner was State Rep. and former Congressman David Young, disguised as Freddy Krueger. Tamyra Harrison, the Salvation Army’s development coordinator, said the idea for the event came to her after watching something similar in Quincy, Illinois. It seemed like a novel way to raise money for a good cause. “It’s something fun to do that’s not a banquet,” she said.Each of the previous events, in 2022 and 2023, raised more than $50,000. The Salvation Army puts those proceeds to immediate use at its food pantry and through its rent and utility assistance programs, which are in especially high demand during the winter. The nonprofit also runs a summer camp, as well as youth and adult programs year-round.In 2024, the Salvation Army served more than 47,000 people in Greater Des Moines, according to the nonprofit’s own records. It provided more than $11,000 in utility assistance and more than $64,000 in rent and mortgage assistance. It also served some 32,000 breakfasts from its mobile canteens, as well as distributed $25,000 in gift cards for food and more than 10,000 toys to area kids. Proceeds from “Unmasking the Singer” buttress the local Salvation Army’s finances, which rely heavily on the Red Kettle Campaign. This season, volunteers rang as hard as they could, but the nonprofit leaders have extended their deadline to Jan. 31 to reach their fundraising goal.