Related Page

Every Christmas season we (along with the Burnet and Marble Falls Noon clubs) ring the bells for the Salvation Army. The proceeds usually supply the entire budget for the area unit for the year.

 

Wal-Mart graciously allows us both main entrances for ringing the bell in 2-hour shifts from just after Thanksgiving right up to Christmas Eve. From the "seasoned" givers we often hear stories of how the Salvation Army helped find a long-lost veteran after "the war" or helped them through a disaster or crisis time. One Rotarian reported how an elderly lady, dressed in clothes that had seen better days, spoke of her brother after the Korean War. He had made it back to the States but was missing. As the lady told the story she was digging in and emptying a fat coin purse. The "Army" spent months searching for the brother, she said, and was apologetic that "this is all [the money] I had in my savings." Suddenly the Rotarian was stopping her in protest that she would empty her savings. "No young fella, this is what I want to do" was her quick reply. "They never found him but they were the only ones who tried."

 

Other "tales from the bells" are related at this page.