Jennifer Flanders

One of our family’s favorite Christmas traditions is bell ringing for The Salvation Army. We seldom miss a year.

Unless you count that time our entire family was quarantined with chickenpox from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve. We were too itchy to ring bells that holiday season.

Or the December we all spent backpacking in Europe. We didn’t spy a single red kettle in our three-week trek from London to Rome.

But when we’re home and well, we ring those bells.

Early every December, we pull out our Santa hats, bundle up warm, and man the kettle for an hour or two at the mall, just outside the entrance to J.C. Penney. Or sometimes at Sam’s Club. Or Brookshire’s. Or Hobby Lobby. Or Fresh. Or (this year) at Chick-fil-A.

We usually sing Christmas carols as we ring. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” … “Joy to the World” … “Away in a Manger” … “O Holy Night.”

One year, our son brought along his violin to play during our shift. Other years, the kids tote harmonicas or recorders. Customers smile at the sight, if not the sound, of our little street musicians and give generously.

The Salvation Army provides a small brass handbell at the collection site. But our family has made extras by threading jingle bells onto a length of heavy wire, then attaching it to a popsicle stick handle with red duct tape. That way, all the children have something to ring and are, therefore, more patient while waiting for their turn with the “real bell.”

Occasionally, the weather turns bitter cold on the day we’re scheduled to volunteer. It doesn’t happen very often in Texas. But when it does, we divide and conquer.

Rather than keeping our little ones out in the elements for the full shift, each child rings and sings with Mom for 10 to 15 minutes at a time before switching off with a sibling.

Daddy takes the rest of our group inside the store or restaurant so they can get warm, enjoy a sweet treat and maybe even knock out a little Christmas shopping.

Ringing the bell for The Salvation Army this time of year makes a great service project for church, school or Scout groups. They are always looking for fresh volunteers, and their new website makes it easy to help.

Simply visit https://www.ringbells.org to sign up.

And if you see a bell ringer on your next shopping trip, please donate. The Salvation Army does wonderful work in our community — and in communities all across the Americas. They’ve been faithfully serving the needy since 1865. Blessings all around!

Jennifer Flanders loves Christmas carols and jumps at any opportunity to sing them. To read more of her family’s holiday traditions — and perhaps discover new ones for your own — visit https://www.flandersfamily.info.