Charity begins at home, in Great Bend
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by Veronica Coons vcoons@gbtribune.com
t is the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self to one’s fellow man that makes giving worthy of the Christmas spirit. - Isabel
Currier For many families, Christmas isn’t only a time for gift giving and receiving around the living room Christmas tree. Its a time for being gracious and charitable to others. Giving helps fill the gaps in our fellowmen’s lives, and it helps fill a space in our own hearts that yearns to connect with others and make a difference. While some give international organizations, others prefer to give locally. Throughout Great Bend there are many ways to reach out and help brighten the holidays for others with fewer resources.
Hear the Bells a Ringing The Salvation Army Christmas kettle campaign is the organization’s major fundraiser, bringing in about 88% of the yearly budget, said William “Bill” Dill, coordinator of the 2012 bell-ringing campaign. Throughout the holidays, kettles will be set up in several locations around Great Bend, Hoisington and Ellinwood. In Great Bend, they will be at the two entrances of Walmart, both Dillons stores, Waters True Value, Walgreens and JC Penney. Dill says he can use as many volunteers has he can get. “I try to fill every spot from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” he said. “We don’t do anything on Sundays, as we are a Christian based or-
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ganization. Paid bell-ringers work around volunteers’ schedules, filling in where needed.” The Salvation Army is a member of the United Way of Central Kansas, working hand-in-hand with other local agencies, Dill said. The organization helps people in need in the community with utility and rent assistance, financial assistance with prescriptions, lodging for the stranded or bereaved, and other social service programs like fire and disaster relief. They also help fund back-to-school backpack program at the beginning of each school year and a summer camp program for disadvantaged youth. The Salvation Army provided 464 backpacks to area youth in 2011, and 424 in 2012. “We’re hoping to bring that figure back up again and are shooting for 500 in 2013,” Dill said. Summer camp lasts for four days, and transportation is provided to and from the Kansas City area for local youth. “The camp is absolutely beautiful, and the kids have a great time,” he said. The Salvation Army also helps with gifts-in-kind which helps people get their lives back on track after experiencing work or home related setbacks. People starting a new job, in need of appropriate clothing can find help there. People who have found themselves homeless for a period and in need of outfitting a new home can also turn to the Salvation Army for some of the things they need. Recently, the organization helped a family that moved into a home, only to find a few days later it was infested with insects. They had to leave all their belongings behind, and were able to turn to the organization to replace some of
what they had. “We can help once every 12 months,” Dill said. “We don’t have unlimited resources, but we do as much as we can.” Bell ringers are critical to the success of the program, Dill said. So much so, if there is a shortage of volunteers, Dill hires paid bell-ringers to fill in the gaps. Kettles need to be manned from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Nov. 17 until 6 p.m. Christmas Eve. Volunteers with the United Way will help kick off the campaign on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the entrances to Walmart and Dillons. Its part of a friendly competition between offices of the United Way of Central Kansas, he said. The organization does not man kettles on Sundays or on Thanksgiving day. “That’s family time,” he said. Shifts can vary in length, depending on the time a volunteer can offer, from one hour to four or more. Reliability is very important, Dill said, because if someone doesn’t show up, he or a paid employee needs to fill-in. Most people, he said, make the effort to be there. Bell ringers who are 16 or older can work alone. If under 16, they need to be accompanied by someone over 16 and sign a waiver. Other than that, anybody who wants to help is eligible. It helps to be outgoing and friendly, and unafraid to be out in the cold. “Last year, during a snowstorm, we had an 84 year-old man in Ellinwood who showed up and worked his whole shift outside,” Dill said. “Of course, I couldn’t let him outdo me, so I had to do it too.” See Charity, 54
Home for the Holidays