Ringing Bells Truly Changes Lives
Three years of ringing bells and collecting change lead to a life-changing moment for Salvation Army volunteer Barry Sattazahn.
Sattazahn, a 63 year-old resident of Lebanon County, began volunteering for The Salvation Army red kettle campaigns while working for Hershey Foods. After he retired, a Salvation Army representative asked if he'd be interested in expanding his volunteer work by helping with recruitment for the red kettle campaign and working directly with people in his community in need of emergency assistance. After helping a gentleman fill his oil tank and a young single mother pay an electric bill, a humble and reserved Sattazahn had an epiphany.
"For all the hours I spent ringing that bell, it truly was a wonderful experience for me to say The Salvation Army is able to help you with this very important need," says Sattazahn. "When the gentleman voluntarily showed me the basement, I saw the oil tank and realized that he might run out of oil at any time. He was so grateful when I said we would get him some oil. You really could see the burden and the stress leave his body."
Sattazahn shares a very similar experience in witnessing the desperation of a pregnant mother with three young children. Unable to work outside the home due to a medical condition, she could not afford to pay her electric bill. When Sattazahn told her The Salvation Army could help, the young woman was so appreciative she called him twice to tearfully express her immense gratitude. Sattazahn checks in with her from time to time and was also able to connect her to a local food bank.
Sattazahn is glad for the opportunity to see firsthand where some of the change collected goes to help neighbors in need.
"As you ring the bells you hear the stories about people who The Salvation Army has helped, and they are grateful and want to give back," says Sattazahn. "It's such a nice feeling to know that we can truly help people in bad times and they don't need to feel ashamed."