The types of people who pass by a kettle

Psychologists and psychiatrists should have to (wo)man a Salvation Army kettle.

The education they would get on humanity’s front lines would equal the one in the classrooms of academia.

All variations on a theme pop out of the river of humanity that flows pass the Salvation Army’s red kettles.

These are the insights, if that is the word, of a new recruit in the Salvation Army elf army that stand by those kettles, creating a space for people to help others less fortunate. But then, even the less fortunate donate as well.

Usually, there are three kinds of people in the flow:

• Ones who refuse to make eye contact or respond to a Merry Christmas, but, with hunched shoulders, march on.

• Ones who are aggressive in eye contact and greeting, but don’t give.

• Ones who give what they can, a dime, a dollar or $100.

There is also a segment that doesn’t seem to fit either category — people who use the bell ringers’ hand sanitizer, rub it over their hands and walk away without donating, or saying thank you.

While the ones who don’t give outnumber the ones who do, the ones who make the biggest impression; they are the bedrock on which we build a polite and caring society.

Bob Cook, a new recruit in the army of elves, cut to the heart of the matter when he said:

“It is not a matter how much is in the kettle, but rather the joy people display when they are able to put even a nickel in the kettle, as did one little boy who walked around for awhile then came back and dropped in the only nickel he had. He will remember forever that he gave.”

Bell ringers often see a modern version of the biblical Widow’s Mite (Mark 12:41– 44, Luke 21:1–4) played out on every twohour shift, people who have very little, doing what they can for a bigger cause.

“I don’t have very much,” said one lady as she dropped a few coins into the kettle.

One man put in a dime.

A man deposited two quarters, as his son lingered, and then, when his dad wasn’t looking, dropped in a loonie with a little smile and quickly marched away.

An elderly woman stopped, and slowly, and painfully, rummaged around in the bottom of her large purse for loose change and put in a few coins.

“If everyone gave a dollar….” she said. It is better to give than receive, or as

St. Francis wrote in his prayer, “It is in giving that we receive.”

And the season of giving is also the season of gratitude.

Many people, ones who give and some who don’t, express gratitude to the bell ringers

“Thank you for doing this. Not many people do.”

“Hi, nice to see you,” said one woman as she stuffs $20 into the kettle.

“Be safe,” said another lady as she put in $20.

And there is also the occasional wink. It’s not to late to join that army – and get an education.

If you’re interested in volunteering for the Red Kettle campaign in the West Kelowna or Peachland area, call 250-258-RING or email westsidesalvationarmy@gmail.com.

Sudokus are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order of the numbers by using the clues already provided. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!