Taken from Stew's Public Affairs Show called NORTHWEST SPECTRUM.
(bell ringing)
Can you tell me the history of the bell you hear ringing,…….Here’s a hint…..the metal on the bell’s shell is red…….and the sound of the metal ball bearing clanging in the shell brings people from all around, digging into their pockets or purses, finding loose change or dollar bills. Every December, thousands and thousands of volunteer bell ringers, all dedicated to the Salvation Army, arm themselves with bells as they tie on Salvation Army aprons and place large red kettles on a stand. This ritual of kettle, bell and apron repeats itself all month for the Christmas Red Kettle Campaign. . Earlier I asked you to think about the history of the bell you heard ringing. The bell is tied to my personal experience of using this very bell and a companion bell at Wal-Mart in Crystal Lake on a Thursday morning earlier this month. I partnered with the morning host on Y 103.9FM, Jim Shea and we worked in the warming room of Wal-Mart for a couple of hours. I made a fist....no I didn't wave my fist at those customers ignoring our pleas, I wedged the bell handles between fingers on my right hand, and in my left hand I held a larger and far older, more war worn bell from the Salvation Army. This formula for bell ringing should be adopted by all bell ringing volunteers, but for now, I think I was the only one. My bell ringing partner, Jim Shea chose to ring just one bell and his was close to one of mine in age and sound. I proceeded to perform a steady sound, similar in tone to what you might hear should the cross arms get stuck in the down position at a rail crossing. Actually, the sound wasn't like that....more like an idiot ringing three bells, and the idiot was me....shouldn't be so hard on myself, I was doing good for the Salvation Army, and yes, customers at Wal-Mart could hear the bells all the way in the back of the store where people were trying to buy Christmas supplies and getting their digital shots produced into cd's and pictures. Moms with their little kids wheeled in large Wal-Mart carts strolled up to us, prompting Jim and I in unison, wishing them "Happy Holidays" and a "Happy New Year." I threw in an extra wish, especially for those rolling a couple of bucks into the red kettle, maybe a "stay warm this Winter" or a "thank you for your generosity from the Salvation Army." Two hours of ringing bells and thanking shoppers for donating, but mostly we both stood around, joking with each other, listening to Jim's boombox he brought for background sound of one of our stations. Occasionally someone walked in from the parking lot with their cell phone attached to their head, listening and talking, a conversation, they would soon find more difficult to hear once they opened the door to the super store. I took it upon myself, a challenge to ring those bells louder than ever, and drown out their phone conversation, making it near impossible to ignore us, but I didn't win that battle. I suppose the facial expressions told the story, the customers seemed less than pleased, but they didn't remove the phone from their head...and each rushed through the entryway and into the store, past those two crazy guys with their loud bell ringing. My long underwear, thick socks, boots, hat, and gloves proved too warm, we weren't outside as we were last year, so this time, I would finish my shift and my feet wouldn't stay behind, frozen solid on the cement. I was pretty warm and the blood was still moving fairly well through my extremities. I can't tell how much the two of us made for the Salvation Army, but I can guess we did pretty good...and what was surprising, we'd typically make money in waves, groups of three people would give at a time, then we'd get nothing for awhile, and all of a sudden...someone would give...then another...and another..then nothing again.....and you can see, this cyclical thing developing. The two hours finally were up...and we returned the kettle to the information desk at Wal Mart and went on our merry way, grateful to do our part to help people in need of Salvation Army services. We wish you a wonderful holiday season....and if you can give your time so others may benefit, then please talk to the Salvation Army. The Army needs your help in bell ringing......they don't have near enough volunteers for their collections.
Molly J
