Volunteer knows what Salvation Army can do

Published 11:15 am Friday, November 28, 2014

VOLUNTEER: Dorothy Griffin volunteers her time, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army in front of Kroger. (Josh Edwards/The Vicksburg Post)

VOLUNTEER: Dorothy Griffin volunteers her time, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army in front of Kroger. (Josh Edwards/The Vicksburg Post)

It doesn’t matter if it’s freezing cold or pouring rain; Dorothy Griffin has a smile on her face and a bell in her hand. 

Griffin is one of the longest-serving bell ringers for the Salvation Army’s annual holiday season fundraiser drive. She’s taken on the task of ringing the bell and greeting people for eight to 10 hours at a time for almost a decade.

“I rang the bell eight years straight until 2006, and I came back this year,” Griffin said.

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Griffin has kept coming back year after year because she believes in the Salvation Army’s slogan of “doing the most good” and spreading holiday cheer as store customers pass her by or drop money in the iconic red kettle.

“It’s very rewarding. I love seeing people smile,” she said.

Local Salvation Army Captain Skikant Bhatnagar said he his thankful for the dedication of bell ringers like Griffin.

“They are very supportive of the Salvation Army,” he said.

Griffin says she continues to support the agency because it has helped her when she was in need of assistance paying utility bills.

“I know the money is going to help people,” she said. “They helped me when I really needed it. You don’t have to be in a bad disaster for the Salvation Army to help out.”

Money raised through the annual Red Kettle drive helps fund Salvation Army’s day-to-day operations that include a soup kitchen that serves lunch at noon every day, utility assistance and other charitable work.

In November, the Salvation Army and the Outlets of Vicksburg started the Vicksburg Challenge to help raise $125,000 for the charity. Bell ringers are asked to volunteer ringing the bell at the Outlets of Vicksburg or donate at least $5 to the cause.

“We have to help the community and keep going,” Griffin said.