Giving back ignites Christmas spirit

You can learn a lot about a community by ringing the Salvation Army bell for an hour.Here are a couple of lessons I learned this year:

• It’s often the people who can afford to give the least who dig the deepest in their pockets and purses to help those in need.
• The Salvation Army helps folks who need it the most. Invariably, someone who has benefited from the Red Kettle Drive will drop a handful of change or a couple of crumpled up bills in the bucket. “You never know when you’re going to need help,” a woman told me Thursday.
• During the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, we need to slow down and remember to let folks in the crosswalk, particularly the elderly and moms with little children, get across the street.
• Too many of us are grumpy during what’s supposed to be the most joyous time of the year.

Helping the Salvation Army — with a fit of money or your time — is the best way to get in the Christmas spirit.

The Salvation Army is one of the best charities in the world. They truly are doing what Jesus would do — helping “the least among us.”

Being associated with such a noble cause makes you feel good about yourself — and provides a flicker of hope in an increasingly dark world.The R&L staff recently took a day ringing the bell outside Kmart. We try to do our part and I’m always proud of my co-workers, who are eager to lend a hand for a good cause whenever asked.

(Many of our journalists are volunteering as mentors in Iredell-Statesville Schools this school year.)

One of our newest reporters, Russell Ledbetter, was one of the first to offer to ring the bell this year even though he’s only been in Statesville about a month. On the way to Kmart, he was involved in an accident and his car was totaled, giving new meaning to the phrase “no good deed goes unpunished.”

A week later, I took a turn ringing the bell outside Wal-Mart for my Rotary club.The list of bell ringers on that day read like a who’s who of caring people in Statesville. I took the bell from retired Postmaster William Jones, whose name seems to be associated with just about every good cause.

It was chilly outside and Mr. Jones was just finishing up a two-hour tour of duty. But he still had that contagious smile and gleam in his eye that told me he would have gladly rang the bell until dark.

At both locations, I had one of my boys. They love ringing the bell and dancing around the red kettle. Their efforts brought smiles to all but the biggest Scrooge and, I’m sure, increased donations.

Mike Fuhrman is the editor of the R&L. He can be reached at mfuhrman@statesville.com.