Jesus Lozano was a Bell Ringer in 2002 and 2003 and decided to volunteer again this year. This week, he was ringing the bell next to the red kettle outside of United Supermarkets.
“Mothers, moms, or if you don’t got food or shelter, they help them all,” Lozano says.
The Salvation Army estimates that at one point 25,000 bell ringers were on the nation’s streets collecting funds for the programs and, like Lonzano, wishing shoppers a Merry Christmas, “Just to help them out, I volunteered to help them out, that way I have my part.”
Captain Joseph McFee started the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign in 1891. McFee was a Salvation Army officer looking for a way to cover the cost of the community Christmas meal.
The tradition continues today. The donations made during Christmas time go toward providing meals, gifts and winter gear for families in need. And they contribute to several initiatives all year long, including providing shelter for the homeless and addiction rehabilitation centers.
“I give everything to Jesus, you know? And I know Jesus looks out for me. That’s just my beliefs, and I know not everybody's gonna have the same beliefs,” said James Pistole, who rang a bell this week outside of the Mall of Abilene. “I know this doesn’t pay very much either, but I’m disabled. Both of my legs have been broken twice, and I’m losing my right arm, so I got to make a little more money.”
Pistole points to the words of the Bible that encourage generosity and kindness as part of his motivation to be part of the campaign.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Their mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.
Outside the Walmart Supercenter Billy Finch echoed some of the sentiments shared by the other bell ringers, saying that the spirit of God motivates him and gives him the duty to be a bell ringer.
“It’s not about helping people, it’s my relationship with God and it’s about the hope of everlasting life. And this Christmas, we ring that bell for Santa Claus, we raise money for the poor and for the homeless, but it’s all about Jesus, and trying to do what he did.”
Finch says he wants to help those struggling because he was once dependent on the Salvation Army, too. Being a Red Kettle Bell ringer is his way of giving back.
“I don’t stay there now, but over the years, in my drug addiction, in my life of living and drinking and carousing, I’ve lived there two or three times. They saved my life, on those cold winter nights.”
Appreciation for the Salvation Army’s provision is something the bell ringers share. Standing outside the Sam’s Club, Brad Hines says he too sees this as an opportunity to repay some of the kindness and support he’s received, “I lived in the Salvation Army twice, and you know, they help people out, and they feed the poor to come in every day.”
Hines says people are very generous, and that he and another worker have raised a significant amount of funds to make a difference for the Salvation Army and those they serve.