How I Came to Be a Bell Ringer

-1993-

My family of six didn’t have much money and no money for Christmas. I went to the local Salvation Army before Thanksgiving with my three year old son in tow. I found the office and asked to speak with the captain. He gave us audience.

I sat my son on my lap and said what was on my mind. I asked if they paid the bell ringers. “Yes,” he said, “we do.” I said that I was interested. He hired me on the spot. He said I looked clear eyed. I went to a training, which was interesting with all the little details like never to touch the money when it spills over on the lid and doesn’t go in the slot. We were instructed to ask someone else to put the money in or use something else, like a pencil, to nudge it in.

Working as a Bell Ringer

I worked as bell ringer, starting the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve: Two weeks in front of Target and two weeks inside the mall. People talked with me. I saw old friends. Little kids excitedly put money in the kettle. I’d chat with them or their parents. The children made it fun.

Hot Cocoa hits the Spot

One cold blustery day someone bought a hot chocolate inside Target and brought it out to me. It was a nice surprise and I was grateful. I remember how good it tasted, how it warmed me up, and how I appreciated someone caring about me standing out in the cold. On occasion, I do the same for bell ringers on a freezing day. I’ll chat with them about bell ringing after I hand them a steaming cocoa.

Every day I brought a swatch of carpet with me for standing on the cold concrete for the eight hours. It helped to soften the impact and made standing there not so brutal during the long hours on unforgiving concrete. Bell Ringers were told they could bring a square of carpet for that purpose. Nothing is quite so tedious as standing in one place for hours at a time. Your legs get tired and cold. Time goes incredibly slow. You want someone to talk to you to help the time pass more quickly.

I earned $600 total, which helped us get through the holidays.

What Can You Do?

You can smile at the bell ringers. Greet them with a “Merry Christmas.” Chat with them if you can spare the time. Remember some of the kettle workers are on hard times. You can cheer them up and make their day. It’s tedious work, but chatting sure makes time go by faster.

That’s one Christmas I’ll never forget.

More next post.

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