Bell Ringers in Abbeville say Christmas is season to give

Written By Gabrielle Lege
Correspondent

We see it every December, men and women standing outside of grocery stores ringing a bell to collect money for the Salvation Army. It’s a Christmas tradition, but a lot of people may wonder if anyone donates and if it does any good. David Miller, a bell ringer at the Walmart on La. 14 in Abbeville, and Marlon Landers, a bell ringer at Winn Dixie on Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville, both seem to think that people love to donate and everything that they give helps.
Both Miller and Landers stated that they believe the Christmas season makes people want to help in any way they can.
“God brings these good people to donate, my job is just to bring those people joy,” says Miller, a Salvation Army member and very religious man. He credits everything he receives to God and the kindness of others.
Landers, a Salvation Army employee and also a religious man, shares a very similar opinion saying, “I believe God puts the spirit of giving in certain peoples hearts.”
Landers also states that he believes the majority of people care for the less
fortunate, they’re just not sure what they can do to help. Which is where foundations such as the Salvation Army come in.
Both men made it overwhelmingly clear how generous the Salvation Army is to anyone who reaches out to them, both saying that as a charity they have always been willing to do whatever they can to help in any way possible.
Miller says, “The Salvation Army can provide many things, all it takes is one phone call.”
Once again sharing a similar opinion Landers states, “The salvation Army treats all of its members very well and do anything they can to help.”
Both men also share the belief that as a very famous charity that is well known for what they do for others, The Salvation Army lives up to expectations in everything they do for the people that depend on them.
“They help people from all walks of life, whether you need to be saved or you need shelter, they are so willing to help,” said Miller.
As well as being grateful for the Salvation Army, the men both seemed grateful for the people who donate to it. Neither of the men seem to know if people are giving more or less this year than in years past, they just know that people always give and for that they are extremely grateful.
“I see a lot of the same faces every day and they always give and say hello; I would like to tell those people thank you,” said Miller. “They could easily ignore and reject me, but they don’t. They don’t have to interact with me, but they do.”
Miller was clearly overwhelmed by the kindness of the strangers he’s encountered during his time bell ringing. He added, “God is good, and people have been kind.”
Landers, also very grateful, claims that the Christmas season makes people feel the spirit of giving and everything they give helps.
Abbeville itself plays a part in all of the donations this year. This year is Miller’s first year as a bell ringer and Landers’ first year bell ringing in Abbeville. Both men have expressed that they have grately enjoyed collecting during this wonderful Christmas season and that the people here have shown kindness and hospitality.
Neither of the men had any tales of rudeness or rejection, only talk of the kindness of the strangers they have encountered.
“People are always willing to give,” says Miller, once again talking of how kind everyone has been. Whether people are donating to charities such as the Salvation Army or just offering a stranger a kind smile, this seems to truly be the season of giving.