One less option, but bell ringing continues

One of my greatest joys during the holiday season is ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. It is a wonderful charity that helps many needy people throughout the year.

For a number of years I have stood outside Andronico’s Market in the Rancho Shopping Center. The volume of people in and out of the store has made this an ideal opportunity for the patrons to contribute, and I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the people of Los Altos.

This year we had to move the kettle to a much less advantageous location because Andronico’s Market refused to allow us to ring the bell in front of their stores. We were told it was a corporate decision.

Last year it was Target, this year it’s Andronico’s.

As a result, the Salvation Army will receive much less money and fewer needy children and adults will receive the help they so desperately need.

So on Dec. 1, I rang the bell in front of the U.S. Bank on Main and Second streets in downtown Los Altos. The people who came by were very generous, but not nearly as many people pass that location.

Although I was disappointed with Andronico’s, I was reminded that the spirit of Christmas lives on.

Friday was a very cold morning, and the manager of Starbucks sent an employee across the street to tell me that anytime during the month of December if I or any other bell ringer needed something to warm us up, we could go to Starbucks and receive a hot drink free. What a thoughtful act of kindness on the part of Starbucks. I’ve never had anyone make an offer like that before.

As one of the volunteers from Los Altos First Baptist Church will I continue to ring the bell? Yes! I will do it as often as I can because the Salvation Army is not so much about receiving, it is more about giving.

And that is what Christmas is all about.

Paul Tokar

Los Altos