University Daily Kansan, December 9, 1980 Page 23
Bell ringers endure cold to collect funds
By MARK PITTMAN
Steff Writer
Staff Writer
Bernice Van Gosen looks comfortable enough, shielded from the sub-freezing temperatures by a huge overcoat, three pairs of socks, galoshes and a stocking cap. She stands in front of the J.C. Penney store on Massachusetts Street, ringing her bell with vigor who volunteers from the Inland Church pass out leaflets nearby.
Bernice, 63, is a professional bell ringer for the Salvation Army's annual Christmas fund-raising campaign. She makes minimum wage and works 15-20 hours a week. She says she will use the money she earns to nurse her heating hills this winter.
In half an hour a captain from the Salvation Army will drop by and pick up the red bucket full of bills and change that money. He'll hand her out. Her afternoon's take may reach $30.
BUT THERE is no heat on the sidewalk of Massachusetts Street. Bernice has only a plywood and plexiglas booth to escape the heat, but its coats as they march from store to store.
"The only parts that are my feet and hands," Bernice says, glancing at the camera.
On the other side of the street and down a block, in front of Raney Drugs, stands another Salvation Army bell ringer. Like Bernice, Kathy Hibbs, a 16-year-old Lawrence girl, answered an ad in the paper to get her position. It's a little cooler than it seems, she says she spends most of her time inside the small wooden shelter provided for her.
"I shake the bell to stay warm," she says, shivering a little.
“Sharing is Caring.” Read the sign on her booth. “Need has no season.”
According to Susan Beers, a caseworker with the army, a helping hand always lies behind her.
Beers said the army's Douglas County chapter hoped to raise $2,000 this year to pay for its holiday activities and ongoing operations, however, the $3,000 raised thus far in the campaign was far short of expectations.
The money raised by workers like Kathy and Bernice and volunteer groups is added to a mail solicitation campaign for the army's Christmas fund.
The eight kettle sites in Lawrence are:
Rusty's Hillcrest, 901 Iowa; Rusty's Westridge, 6th and Kasalid; Gibson's Discount Center, 2525 Iowa; K-Mart, 31st and Kroger, 23rd and Naismith; TG&Y, 711 W. 23rd; Rardian Drug Store, 921 Department Store, 830 Massachusetts Department Store, 830 Massachusetts There are 15 to 20 volunteers and 32 paid workers helping the army this holiday season, Beers said.
THE SALVATION ARMY tradition of
the war against the Germans to pay for
(la programa goes back to 1891)
In that year, Capt. Joseph McFee of the army's San Francisco hit unit upon the unique idea of setting up a kettle for contributions near the Oakland Ferry. McFee's goal was to provide Christmas dinner for the city's needy.
The idea spread to cities in the East, where the kettles needed to have someone stand by them to make sure they weren't stolen. Later, refinements such as having a metal canopy on the Claus suit were made. Today, kettles in larger cities still have Sanitas ring, but
BEN BICOLERIKANSAH tallf The Salvation Army bell ringers are a familiar sight to shoppers during the Christmas season. Their many hours of hard volunteer work and contributions provide the poor with happiness during the holidays.
some have automated bells and bulletproof glass.
The money gathered from the Douglas County effort, Beers said, will be used for the army's annual Christmas dinner at McCormick Field. The president of a Douglas County pursuing home
The money gathered from the Douglas County effort, Beers said, will be used for the army's annual Christmas dinner program, to provide gifts for every resident of a Douglas County nursing home and to needy youngsters this Christmas.
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