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Friday, December 29, was the beginning of Salvation Army Bell-Ringing Season for Mesa West Rotary. Don LaBarge has been coordinating the scheduling of volunteers to work two-hour shifts in front of the Bass Pro Shop for more years than he probably wants to remember. Boy Scouts help fill in some of the needed shifts, as do members of the Westwood High School Interact Club. The Gilbert High School Basketball Team has also been a big help.It is Don's hope that members of Mesa West Rotary will each work a minimum of three two-hour shifts this year. If you have not yet connected with him to schedule your shifts, CLICK HERE to send an e-mail to him and let him know you would like to help. He will let you know what shifts are still available. It is not only okay, but strongly encouraged, to bring a friend or family-member with you when you "do your bell-ringing duty."
Bell-ringing provides an interesting study in human behavior. Lots of people won't make eye contact with you. Some will say they already gave. Many will make sure the children with them each have a few coins to put in the kettle then follow up with a bill themselves. If you are cheerful enough, some of those who refused to make eye contact will come back a few minutes later and deposit a bill.
It was raining a good bit of the time on "Black Friday" so the Bass Pro Management allowed our volunteers to work inside, between the two sets of sliding doors where customers who had just made purchases exit the building. John Pennypacker took a photo of Dave McGown before leaving after his shift. Dave took a photo of a little girl who saved her allowance to "help the homeless." Since that is one of the things that Salvation Army does, her parents took her to Bass Pro knowing there would be a Salvation Army kettle there. It took the little girl about ten minutes to empty her purse of coins and bills to complete her generous donation. Jeanie Morgan and her son Dan finished the first day of the 2019 bell-ringing season.