Bells are ringing for the Salvation Army
December 17, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Mount Si seniors Brittany Hakes and Annie England gave their arms a good workout by ringing bells for the Salvation Army Dec. 10. The two Key Club members are helping the Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts and Snoqualmie Valley Community ring in funds for people in need.
Cub Scouts Christopher Ostrem and Creed Carlson rin the bell for the Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis at the North Bend QFC.
The bells and red collection buckets are strategically placed at QFC and Safeway in North Bend and the Fall City Market and Deli. Anyone can ring them and anyone can donate.
“I’m very happy to be helping out the community,” England said. “Once, I saw somebody slip two $100 bills in there.”
Harold Erland, secretary of the Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis Club and an agent of the Salvation Army, said the aid organization helps people everywhere.
“They’re a hands-on kind of charity,” Erland said. “When you have things like Hurricane Katrina, they were on-site in less than 24 hours.”
He enjoys collecting funds for them because “what we raise stays in the Valley.”
Erland gave several examples of people benefiting from the Salvation Army locally.
If people can’t afford to pay Puget Sound Energy, the Salvation Army will refer them to the PSE Warm Home Fund so they don’t freeze at night.
If homeless people, especially single mothers and their children, seek temporary housing, the Salvation Army will foot their motel bill until a better place is found.
Another time, a local woman simultaneously lost her house and her job and began living in her car. The Salvation Army paid for her gas to drive to Boise, Idaho so she could set up a new life with her sister who lived there.
In another instance, a woman who was driving to a hospital in Seattle found herself stranded in the Snoqualmie Valley after her car tire went flat. The Salvation Army arranged for Les Schwab to replace the tire and pay for half of the bill. The Salvation Army paid for the other half.
Snoqualmie Police Public Information Officer Becky Munson also works with the Salvation Army. If she learns of someone in need, she often connects the person with the charity.
“Normally, what I do is give gas and food vouchers,” Munson said. “The last few months there have been a lot of requests for rent. My funds are limited here, but I can give funds for $100.”
Erland urged people to donate, saying that the Snoqualmie Valley area usually uses more Salvation Army money than it raises.
“This season, it’s time when we need to open our heart and our pocketbooks and help people,” he said.
The Campfire girls and Cub Scouts are also ringing bells for the Salvation Army.
“I think it’s important that the kids learn about giving to others and doing community service,” Campfire leader Christa Ostrem said.
The bell ringers get something out of it, too.
“It’s nice saying hi to everybody and welcoming them into the store,” England said. “It’s nice to see the holiday spirit and how much people are willing to give.”
Reach reporter Laura Geggel at 392-6434 .221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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