MEET PATTY, BELL RINGER OF 30 YEARS
Bell ringers of all ages and backgrounds brave the cold, bustling crowds, and long hours of standing, in a united front to raise money to help serve underserved communities and people.
Imagine ringing the bell ever since the 1980s? Imagine the people you meet and families you have helped, with the cling of the bell and a jubilant ‘Merry Christmas’ greeting.
Patty, bell ringer of 30 years, stands in front of a Walmart in Baltimore County, with a thrifted martial arts sweatshirt on, and with her thick pepper-colored hair flowing with the wind. Her large smile, and cheerful nature infects many bystanders to donate loose change.
Ever since her children were little, with the youngest being born in 1996, Patty has been a bell ringer for The Salvation Army. “Technically, my husband has been a bell ringer before I was one,” Patty said.
Originally from Washington State, Patty and her husband later moved to Maryland to start a new life with their children. Not so long ago, Patty’s husband, a Veteran, lost his battle to cancer. That inspired her son to ring the bell and prolonged bell ringing as a family tradition.
“I don’t dwell on his loss,” said Patty. She keeps going by working, bell ringing, and by bringing Christmas cheer in her local community.
The Salvation Army has helped Patty in the past by providing Angel Tree Christmas assistance when her children were little. And today, Patty is ringing the bell to give back, and to support her own finances since money is tight due to inflation.
“Ringing the bell is also a great way to earn some spending money for groceries and for Christmas gifts,” said Patty. Inflation, high food prices, and rising utility costs are not only affecting Patty directly but is also effecting her friends, neighbors, and people in her community. “I know so many people struggling with their finances. On the corner from where I live, there’s free food given out to families who cannot afford to put food on the table. I am also going through personal and financial struggles too.”
If The Salvation Army didn’t have red kettles, Patty knows that a lot of good work wouldn’t even be done. One red bucket helps families going through financial hardships, gives employment opportunities to seniors like Patty, helps families combating drug addition, homelessness, hunger, utility bills and isolation.
“A drop of change into the bucket helps your local community get needs met. Donating to The Salvation Army means you are reaching many needs.”
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