The Salvation Army’s Secret Weapon.

January 1st, 2008 · 4 Comments

Normally, when confronting salvation army bell ringers, I try to look very busy and avoid eye contact. They make me feel guilty. If I can go out of my way to avoid them by sneaking in a side or back entrance I will.

I’m a jerk, make no excuses for it, and have no defense. I’m a selfish, crabby, cynical, skeptical kind of a person.

So I wouldn’t be caught dead standing around, freezing my butt off, ringing a bell outside the doors of a busy shopping center–under normal circumstances. I mean, what if someone I knew saw me? I have a reputation to think about.

So what does Lisa do? During one of my Masters weekends, while the clipboard is going around at church, she signs us all up to man a shift of bell ringing outside of Walmart.

I hem. I haw. But eventually I come around. After all, it’ll be a great character builder for the kids, and a good family memory. Plus it’s not like I have much of a choice.

But then Lisa comes down with pneumonia which leaves me holding the bag (or the bell) on a blustery single-digit December Sunday morning.

Sheesh.

So I muster all of my courage, bundle up the kids and decide to make the best of it. It’s only for an hour, and we can always duck inside the store to warm up if we need to.

The ringers just before us got cold during the last half of their shift, so they bought hand-warmers and stuffed them in their gloves to help keep warm. Having no use for them, they gave them to us–which was very cool . . .I mean warm . . .I mean nice.

Next, we strapped on the aprons and started ringing–and saying thank you . . .a lot. The money poured in. I was shocked at how many people dropped spare change, and bills into that red pot. I actually saw a crumpled twenty spot stuffed into the slot–with a smile! Little children pleaded for coins then struggled with their mittens to drop them in the slot. You could see people digging out their wallets and into their purses while they walked toward us in the parking lot.

Not only that, but people actually started thanking us (you know, for standing out in the cold ringing the bell).

What did I learn from all this?

Most Salvation Army Bell Ringers probably aren’t all that different than myself.
Probably most of them couldn’t care less if you don’t drop anything into their pot.
Either a lot of people have really good hearts, or
Bell ringers under the age of ten can really bring it in.

4 responses so far ↓

1 Ann Nonymous // Jan 2, 2008 at 6:59 am

God bless you for helping The Salvation Army - and for helping out your neighbors in need! Thanks for your honest post; it was a special blessing - even to read after the holidays!

Thanks Ann,

That was nice of you to say. I’ll take any blessings I can get. God knows I’m no saint. And I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the post–even after the holidays. I’ve been procrastinating on that one for so long, last night I figured it was now or never.

Thanks again!
Chris
2 cynthia olson // Jan 2, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Chris -

What a great thing to do with your children!

We frequently hear that a person’s first recollection of giving had to do with the kettle.

I will say that the bell ringers I know DO care that you give - they are kind of competitive - and get their affirmation from the quarters, dimes and nickels, HOWEVER they are also quick to explain (not judge) those who don’t give.

Thanks for that perspective Cynthia.

It was a good experience. I think a lot of people are afraid of being judged when they don’t drop something in. More than a couple people had to explain to me that their husband gave on the way in, or they donated yesterday, or something. I don’t think people should feel like they need to tell me that. I’m not keeping track.

For us–even just a kind smile was nice. But like I said, I was amazed at how cheerfully so many people gave. It was an eye opening experience for me.

Thanks for stopping by Cynthia!

Chris
3 Lyrical Fool // Jan 2, 2008 at 9:19 pm

Happy New Year’s, Chris.

I guiltily go into attempted stealth mode when I walk by the Salvation Army bell ringers, too.

I justify it in that I give in other places, but I can’t help that little twinge of guilt I feel.

Thanks for the post, and Happy New Year’s to you and yours!

Happy New Years to you Fool (Sheesh I wish I knew your name, I feel so stupid calling you “Fool.” Maybe I’ll go with LC from now on–yeah, that’s better.)

I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only one with the guilt thing. But now you know you can let that go. That guy or gal ringing the bell is probably some average joe like your’s truly, doing his honest best to pretend to be cheerful and not think of the hundred other things he’d rather be doing.

Thanks again for stopping by. I read your New Years post and was about to comment when I realized I had nothing to say about a piece of music I’d never heard before. But you got me curious. Now I’m going to have to check it out.

Later,
Chris
4 Lyrical Fool // Jan 3, 2008 at 8:18 am

There should have been a youtube clip of the band performing that song. Let me know if you can’t see it?

Chris Wondra . com

School teacher, dad, homeowner turns superhero but has to learn his powers along the way