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RINGERS: A little empathy, please

| December 12, 2021 1:00 AM

For the last six or seven Christmases I have had the privilege of ringing the bell for Salvation Army’s red bucket. It has been a wonderful experience. So much so that last year I took along a girlfriend and she loved it so much that she joined me again this year.

The only negative I have experienced is the merchants’ attitude toward letting us bell ringers stand inside the entry. We live in North Idaho, folks, not in L.A.

It is cold, rainy, snowy, windy, etc., during the season of this volunteer opportunity. Every store has an entry area that would more than accommodate the tiny space we use to accept donations.

Last Saturday, my friend, Carole, and I were privileged to be located at the Black Sheep location by Costco. I had previously been assigned Walmart in Hayden, but called to say I could not, nor would not stand out in the snow for two hours, especially when Walmart has more than enough room inside the entry for us (the same goes for Super 1 and Albertson’s when I was assigned to them).

I was reassigned to Black Sheep and was extremely grateful to be inside during my shift of 10 a.m. to noon, during which it snowed continually. The only reason I have heard for the lack of empathy for the volunteers is that the people inside the store “don’t want to hear the bell all day long.”

Really? Are you kidding me? It’s once a year and for such a good cause.

I saw an article in the Coeur d’Alene Press saying there is a need for more bell ringers. Perhaps if the stores were a bit more accommodating, there would not be a shortage of those willing and wanting to donate the gift of their time. We are in the flu season and COVID scares have most of us trying to keep our resistances strong. How about some good old humanity?

STORMA EDELBROCK

Hayden