Can You Hear the Bell Ringing?

This past Friday and Saturday, I donated four hours of my time (two hours on Friday, and two hours on Saturday) by ringing a bell for the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign.

Although simply standing outside for two hours and ringing a bell does not sound like much, the fact is that it was absolutely freezing outside. After two hours, my hands and feet were numb. But I still rang that bell. This small act of perseverance on my part lead to aid for others who desperately need help this time of year. I regarded every penny, nickle, dime, quarter, or dollar that went into that red bucket during my shift as a personal victory. Some people don't have all the comforts that I have, and some even lack a home, food, or warmth to help them through the winter. My simple act of standing in the cold and ringing that bell hopefully helped ease their suffering. This was one small way in which I could sacrifice a little of my time to help others in need.

Not quite as obvious would be the impact I've had on the people that walked past me those days. Whenever I saw someone, I would smile at them and wish them a happy holiday. I hope that I made a difference in someone's life, however small.

I will be volunteering two hours every Saturday until the Red Kettle campaign ends. By that time, I hope to create a noticeable difference in someone's life, simply by donating my time for a worthy cause.