Friday is first day of Christmas bell ringing for United Way

By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 9:58 AM CST

If you are looking for a community leader on Friday, just follow the sound of the bell.

Friday is the first day of the Christmas bell ringing season for the United Way of St. Francois County, and most of the people scheduled to ring the bell and collect money in the southern part of the county are city, county or state officials.

The annual bell ringing campaign continues through Dec. 24, with volunteers from all walks of life taking 796 one-hour shifts in Farmington and Park Hills. Every volunteer is greatly appreciated, said Donna Hickman, executive director for the local United Way chapter.

“We know it is a huge commitment of even an hour's time at this busy season of the year, but it results in support for our neighbors in need the rest of the year,” she added. “We have many new ringers this year, ringing more than 300 hours over 28 days.”

The bell ringing campaign is a fundraiser for the local United Way. The organization uses all its annual proceeds to fund grants for agencies that serve St. Francois County. This year, the organization’s Board of Directors has pledged to raise $135,000 to fund those grants.

Dine Out Thursdays, Wishing Wells and payroll deductions also are big fundraisers for the nonprofit organization. Bell ringing, however, is the most visible of the group’s efforts.

Bell ringers will be at Walmart in Farmington from 9 a.m. to  9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at JC Penney in Farmington; from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 at USA Drug in Farmington; and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and  noon to 6 p.m. Sundays at Country Mart in Park Hills.

The campaign begins at 5 a.m. Friday with United Way board member Mike Gladbach and Associate Circuit Court Judge James Kelly taking their traditional first shift at Walmart. The men have been the earliest volunteers for two decades.

“It’s a way for bell ringers to give back to the community and to thank people for what they have done,” Gladbach explained.

Among others who will ring the bell opening day at Walmart are Farmington Fire Chief Todd Mecey at 6 a.m.; St. Francois County Treasurer Kerry Glore, who will take her usual 7 a.m. shift; Farmington Mayor Mit Landrum, who will ring with his granddaughter; Farmington City Councilman Dennis Smith, who will ring for two hours with his wife Pattie; Desloge Mayor David Kater; State Sen. Kevin Engler; and State Rep. Linda Fischer.

At JC Penney’s, County Assessor Dan Ward will be the first to ring, followed by Commissioner Bret Burgess, Sheriff Dan Bullock and Circuit Court Clerk Vicki Weible.

County Commissioner Patrick Mullins and Park Hills Mayor David Easter will start the bell ringing at 9 a.m. at Country Mart in Park Hills.

Area businesses, churches and Farmington firefighters are among the many volunteers helping out this season. Bell ringing will wind up at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve. Volunteers that day will receive a complimentary cup of coffee at Wise Grounds (at Belgrade Bank) until noon that day.

George Easley of the Daily Journal rang for the first time last year and said it was one of the more rewarding experiences in his life.

“It makes you more appreciative of what you have,” he said. “One woman walked past, then turned around, put her hand in her pocket and pulled out some coins. She said, ‘I’d like to give more, but it’s really a tough year.’

“You can tell sometimes that these people are not as fortunate as some of us, but they’re still willing to give.”

USA Drug and new Beginnings Grief and Loss Support Group will have a wishing well at the store. This is the first year the groups have rung the bell at the store.

“We wanted to bring USA Drug and New Beginnings together to give to a charity that the whole community benefits from,” said Michelle Smith, the store’s marketing director.

This was Hickman’s first year overseeing the project. Rocky Good and Bonnie Bockenkamp guided her through the process and regaled her with tales from the past that included bad weather and finding people at the last minute when scheduled bell ringers could not make their shifts.

On Tuesday, 911 Chief Alan Wells filled the final slot, but Hickman is still looking for volunteers to fill in if needed. For more information or go donate to the United Way, contact Hickman at donna@unitedwayofsfc.org or call 573-760-8929.

This bell ringing program began in 1988 when the Salvation Army asked a group of volunteers to help them raise money. The volunteers agreed, but asked that the money be split with the Farmington Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry and the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry.

That group of volunteers evolved into Farmington United Fund Incorporation, then Farmington United Way and finally, United Way of St. Francois County. The agreement changed to give the majority of the money raised to the agencies funded by the United Way. A portion of it goes to the Salvation Army, which in turn, helps St. Francois County residents.

“People get confused because bells also ring in North County,” Hickman explained. “That money only goes to the Salvation Army, which sends it back to St. Francois County through the Bonne Terre Ministerial Alliance.”

 The United Way estimates that one in four St. Francois County residents (about 16,000 people) benefits from a United Way grant recipient.

Agencies scheduled for grants in 2010 are: St. Francois County Children’s Dental Health Clinic, St. Francois County Community Partnership, SEMO Family Violence Council, L.I.F.E Center for Independent Living, Parkland Foster Adopt Families, Helping Hands of the Southeast Mo. Mental Health Center, Farmington Meals on Wheels for Special Diets, Caring Communities of West County, North County and Central Schools, Habitat for Humanity of St. Francois County, East Missouri Action Agency Back to School Fair, Salvation Army, Parkland Pregnancy Resource Center, Bismarck Church of God Food Pantry, Farmington Ministerial Alliance, Bonne Terre Ministerial Alliance, Elvins Food Pantry, St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantries in Desloge and Farmington, Young Faith in Christ and Senior Centers in Bismarck, Bonne Terre, Farmington, and Park Hills.

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.

 

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