On December 24, Wayne and Lu General wrapped up the final bell-ringing shift for 2020.I feel the money take was very good as several bell ringers with past experience reported seeing an unusual amount going in the kettle with 20's and 10's. On my ring Christmas eve, I had two different people put in a $100 bill.
Reporting of the final money will not happen until January when Scott Ramsey is able to return to work.
I did report that Sara Lee - Scott's wife - was critical which was my assumption. Scott corrected it. She was very sick. Sara Lee had been battling Valley Fever for months which we know as a respiratory illness. She did test positive for COVID. Scott ended up taking her to St. Joe's hospital at the direction of her Doctor. He was regulated to the parking lot. St. Joe's kept her for eight hours and released her back to her home with medication.
The giving out of the presents and food to families was completed. There were some struggles with the operation as all the Salvation Army Officers who planned and ran the even ended up at the last minute on December 12 being furloughed due to testing positive for COVID. The one remaining officer named Andrea who was negative came down ill with COVID symptoms on Monday, December 21 during the start of the delivery and went home.
That left no Officers, so three retired Majors responded and took over as leaders. We had numerous volunteers also respond to help from Rotary including several from our club. The job got done but not without struggle. It got completed and hundreds of recipients showed up. It caused big traffic problems, a lot of stress. Police responded and helped. The one major complication that happened was a struggle to get recipients to stay in their cars.
Anyhow, the day was saved, and there are plans by the board to review and make suggestions for a better operation next year.
Thanks,
Don