Changing Of The Salvation Army Bell Ringing Guard

By Shannon Hicks

After 20-plus years of coordinating the annual Salvation Army Bell Ringing Campaign, the bell has been passed.

Anna Wiedemann and Steve Bennett recently took over the coordination efforts of bell ringers for the Newtown chapter of The Salvation Army from Sylvia Poulin and Marie Sturdevant.

On December 9 volunteers of all ages will begin ringing bells around town for The Salvation Army’s Bell Ringing Campaign. Residents can ring bells on their own, with friends or significant others, with children and/or grandchildren. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have been known to cover a shift or two, and high school musicians often sign up for some time with the familiar red bucket. Anyone who is willing to spend at least an hour ringing a bell is invited to do so.

Openings are still available for this season, which runs Fridays and Saturdays, December 9–17. Fridays usually run from late afternoon into early evening and Saturdays are during the morning and afternoon hours.

Buckets will be set up both weekends at Sand Hill Plaza near both entrances for Stop & Shop; outside Yankee Wine & Liquor on Queen Street; outside Dunkin’ Donuts, also in Queen Street Shopping Center. A bucket will also be set up during the December 9–10 weekend outside Blue Colony Diner, 66 Church Hill Road, and the during the second weekend of the campaign (December 16–17) at Walgreens Pharmacy, at 49 South Main Street.

Give Steve Bennett a call at 203-470-4975, or Anna Wiedemann at 203-417-3004, to volunteer.

Funds collected during the annual campaigns are used by the Newtown chapter of The Salvation Army to help those in need in Newtown.

Mrs Sturdevant and Mrs Poulin may have handed over the coordination efforts, but they aren’t walking away from the buckets.

“We’ll be out there ringing the bell again this year, definitely,” said Mrs Sturdevant. “I’ll be out there with my husband Dick.”

“And I’ll be out there with my husband Bob,” Mrs Poulin added right behind her. “They’ve always helped and supported us. We really couldn’t have done this without that.”