In many cities in Canada and around the world, the Christmas season is defined by the familiar jingle-bells of the Salvation Army bell-ringers.
These cheerful messengers and their bright red kettles have been "ringing in compassion" for over 100 years, collecting funds for the underprivileged.
It all began in San Francisco in 1891 when Joseph McFee, a sailor from Liverpool, England, was moved to provide Christmas dinner for the poor in The Bay area.
Thinking back to the cold, dark docks of Liverpool, he remembered a pot hanging inconspicuously on the wharf that was used to collect loose change for charity. Spurred by the idea, McFee hung a crab-cooking cauldron at the Oakland Ferry Landing on Market Street. His dedication to "keep the pot boiling!" provided food for many that Christmas.
McFee couldn't have known at the time that his good deed launched a Christmas tradition that would resonate around the world.
Over a century later, the red kettle stands as a symbol of simplicity and hope. The bell ringers are embedded in our culture and Christmas would not be the same without them. Whether standing on windswept street corners or in warm suburban malls, they have become an enduring legacy of caring to the downtrodden all over the world.
"Whatever you give, you get back," says Margaret Rowe, kettle supervisor for the Richmond District of Greater Vancouver, as she stands outside a Safeway store in the brisk air.
Two elderly women gather around her as she speaks, dropping loose change into the kettle. Rowe cheerfully assures them that their funds will remain in the local area. In this case, the money will be used to supply community meals, coats and blankets to "walk-ins."
Rowe's reality is multiplied hundreds of times throughout British Columbia. The Salvation Army applies the funds donated through the red kettle campaign to street youth, homeless and addiction services. In addition, it provides goods and services to people struggling with mental health issues or living with domestic violence.
Children who might otherwise go without will receive clothing or a toy through the Army's adopt-a-family, a program undertaken in partnership with Vancouver Family Services.
Michelle Sinclaire, a bell ringer at a mall in the Lower Mainland, says she got involved as a volunteer after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
"In a moment, everything changed," she says. "After six years of treatment, I wanted to share my gratefulness for getting a second chance. I bounce for joy when I do this."
Many are not as fortunate, and pain, loneliness and former addictions are etched into their faces. Tiffany, a bell ringer outside a Shoppers Drug Mart, readily admits she "has seen hard times" and looks "a lot older than I am."
But her faced beams as she describes how she answered an ad to be a bell ringer at the local employment resource center and was grateful to have a job. While the vast majority of bell-ringers are unpaid, some are hired if there is a shortage of volunteers.
In Tiffany's case, it turned out to be a lucky break, equipping her with work skills and giving her hope that 2008 might be a better year.
Outside of B.C., the Salvation Army helps over 400 communities. This Christmas season, in partnership with major corporations, the Toronto-based "Angels in the Night" program will distribute over 315,000 blankets to the homeless and marginalized across the country. Last year, the program served over 2.5 million meals and provided thousands of shelter beds to those in need.
The Salvation Army's good works also extend around the world.
Today, the thread of trust established in 1865 between The Salvation Army and nations representing over 175 languages is far-reaching. From Singapore to Swaziland, Bolivia to Botswana, Fiji to The Philippines, the Army assists both the destitute and victims of disaster.
The organization's international headquarters is still in London, England, where the founder, Methodist Minister William Booth and his wife, Catherine, were motivated by Christ's call to "feed my sheep."
Whether it is setting up field kitchens in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina or providing assistance to victims of cyclone Guba in Papua New Guinea, The Salvation Army continues to meet endemic needs around the world. It also serves as a disaster relief agency and works to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation in many countries.
In addition, the Army's faithfulness to its core values, "giving hope today," attracts citizen and celebrity alike. American Idol star Kelly Clarkson, sang at halftime at this year's Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Game, ringing in the 2007 Red Kettle Christmas campaign.
Clarkson is not the only singer connected in some way with The Salvation Army. The Beatles song, "Strawberry Fields Forever" was inspired by the Army's Strawberry Field Children's home in Liverpool, now a retreat center. John Lennon, who wrote the song with Paul McCartney in 1967, used to play in the home's garden and attend an annual music fete there with his Aunt Mimi.
Today, the Sallyann bell ringers continue to remind us that we can make a difference. The sum total of the coins tossed in the kettles around the world nourishes millions. And this, one might say, is the true spirit of Christmas.
Feeds