Decades of Ringing Bells for The Salvation Army

During the holiday season in Penticton, B.C., you might come across Joseph Driscoll, wearing his signature Santa hat, and ringing a Salvation Army bell outside a local grocery store. He aims to get the attention of people passing by and encourage them to support the Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign.

Joseph, 89, is very much involved with The Salvation Army all year around. He takes part in food drives and attends Sunday service every week. When registrations for the kettle campaign open, Joseph is always ready and eager to put in his shifts.

“All the things that The Salvation Army does in our area are amazing, so I am interested in encouraging the work they do.”

“I just feel like I have an obligation to do this each year. As soon as the notice comes out, I am volunteering. I look forward to that,” Joseph shared.

Volunteering for the Christmas Kettle Campaign has been a decades-long tradition for Joseph. For 30 years, he has been going out there each year to raise money for families each Christmas. Loving the social aspect of volunteering, and admiring the Army’s work, Joseph finds this task enjoyable.

“All the things that The Salvation Army does in our area are amazing, so I am interested in encouraging the work they do, and it all ties in with the bell ringing. A lot of the money that comes from it will go into the areas that they sponsor,” Joseph said. “The rewarding part for me is being able to greet people in the different stores. To be able to greet them and wish them a Merry Christmas.”

Throughout the years, Joseph has made friends while volunteering. People tend to recognize him due to his consistent presence. He takes on three to four shifts weekly at different locations in Penticton. He has also inspired other people to volunteer.

“Two hours of your time would help support a family.”

“I hope that I will be able to continue to do this for many, many years to come,” Joseph added.

 Mary MacArthur who is the kettle coordinator in Penticton, says that volunteering  is a great opportunity to give back to the community, as the shifts are flexible, and you can pick your hours.

“Two hours of your time would help support a family,” Mary said. “If more people were willing to just give two hours, it would make a huge difference at the food bank. It would just enable us to help people who are struggling now more than ever with food security and just trying to get by day by day.”

By Juan Romero