Salvation Army needs bells ringers

It’s that time of year again when Salvation Army bell ringers greet shoppers. The familiar sound of the bells, combined with the iconic red kettles, and red aprons means the holidays are here.

But at the Safeway in Prunedale, one bell ringer stands out beyond his blue apron.

“I’m Nathan, and I’m nine.”

Apart from the fun of ringing the bell, “I come out and volunteer because I want to collect money for people who don’t have as much,” Nathan Garza said.

He’s been doing this since he was four-months-old, with his mom, who works for the Salvation Army.

“In December of 2005, I took him out dressed as a little Santa,” Esmeralda Guardado.

Volunteers can pick their location, and times, and can work a minimum of two hour shifts.

But this year, volunteer numbers are down, and without volunteers, there aren’t the red kettles.

“Right now we are on target to be about less than half of what we generally bring in, so we’re really just trying to push for more volunteers,” Salvation Army Cadet Blake Wilson said.

Organizers say they usually bring in about $100,000, and so far, they’ve collected $25,000.

The money goes to places like the Good Samaritan Center in Seaside, which provides food, hot showers, laundry and a friendly place to go.

“I’ve been homeless for ten years, and I didn’t come here for a couple of years, and then I found out about it, and I’ve been a regular ever since,” Marc Scheinfield said.

Marc and Nathan may not know each other, but they’re connected by the familiar sound of the bells. “

To become a volunteer, call 831-899-4911.