The Journey Continues: Looking toward Christmas
My journey, looking toward Christmas, takes me to the Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettles Campaign for Hays County. Each year we are given the opportunity to share our time and efforts in staffing one of the kettle locations. Ringing the bell as a volunteer is an investment not only to help those in need, but also in myself as a responsible adult — a “pay it forward” for the many blessings I have received.
The history of The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Program is remarkable. While many people recognize the kettles, how many know the story behind their beginnings? In 1891, Captain Joseph McFee was stationed with the Salvation Army in San Francisco and was distraught because of the many poor people going hungry. His prayer and hope visualized a free dinner at Christmas for the poverty-stricken and destitute. But he had no funding for such a project. As he lay awake praying, his thought drifted back to his sailor days in Liverpool, England. He remembers how at the staging landing where the boats came in to discharge their passengers, a large iron kettle, nicknamed “Simpson’s Pot” stood on the dock, there for the passengers leaving the ships to toss in a few coins to help the poor.
Inspired by this memory, McFee started the next day to copy that idea. With his own kettle, he gathered enough to host the dreamed-about Christmas meal. His success led to the spread of the kettle program to other Salvation Army sites, and today this campaign is recognized and celebrated around the world.
The Salvation Army seeks Volunteer Bell Ringers for Mondays through Saturdays, in two-hour volunteer blocks (From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) The last date to volunteer is Dec. 24. Often service clubs and churches take an entire block of time. Mike Smith, service chair for the San Marcos Noonday Lions Club has requested an entire day. The Red Kettles will be found at all Wal-Marts, Sam’s Club, Hobby Lobby, JC Penny and Cabela’s in Buda, Kyle and San Marcos.
The challenge of coordinating and scheduling of volunteers is entrusted to Debbie Ruiz, who can be contacted at either 737-344-1782 or emailed at ruizdebbie1966@gmail.com. The San Marcos Salvation Army Service Center is found at 300 CM Allen Pkwy, Ste. 100. Office phone is 512-754-8541 or email: Lisa.Cruz@uss.salvationarmy.org.
As one bell ringer told me years ago, while she rang the bell outside Wal-Mart: “I use to come with my grandmother to help ring the bell; she is gone, but I am here to keep up our family tradition. Merry Christmas!”
Acts 20:35 (KJV): “I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
