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| CMP Employees Kathy Williams (left), Stan Halstead (middle) and Christie Sewell take turns ringing the bell for a good cause.
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Besides the Christmas carols piped into every store in the United States, the most common sound a shopper hears from Thanksgiving until the New Year is the sound of a Salvation Army bell ringer stationed in front of grocery stores, department stores, malls and discount stores. Follow the sound and you will see the bellringer and the ubiquitous red kettle. Each year, this Christmas tradition of giving is found throughout the country. For the second year, the CMP staff has participated in this program. On Friday, December 3rd, CMP North employees took turns as Salvation Army bell ringers to give a little back to the people less fortunate than themselves.
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| CMP Employees Lue Contreras (left) and Tammy Limestahl (right) pose for a picture while collecting money for the Salvation Army. |
The idea to volunteer came from Christie Sewell, Competitions/Affiliations Manager, “I volunteered as a bell ringer before and thought that it would be a wonderful way for the CMP to do something for others during the Holidays,” Sewell commented. “Besides,” she said, “it can be fun, too.” Christie contacted the local Salvation Army and set up a day for the CMP employees to tend to the red kettle in front of the Wal-Mart store near Port Clinton. Employees took turns throughout the day with two to three people manning the booth and collecting the money.
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| Baileigh, Tammy Limestahl's daughter, came by to help out with the fun! |
Thankfully, the weather was cooperative and not as bad as a Northern Ohio winter day can be. Employees Mike Conrad, Jan Meyer, Samantha Miller, Lue Contreras, Kathy Williams, Stan Halstead, Christie Sewell, Dana Bacak, Tommy Whitten and Tammy Limestahl, as well as her daughter Baileigh Limestahl, took their turns with bell in hand. The result was a very successful day for the Salvation Army. The local Salvation Army has a goal of collecting $30,000 this year to help the needy.
Stan Halstead, newest member of the CMP North family said, “It was nice to hear that some of the people donating money had received help from the Salvation Army in the past and wanted to return the favor.”
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| Dana Bacak (left) and Tommy Whitten (right) enjoyed ringing the bell despite the
cool
breeze.
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And it was fun for all involved. “I loved ringing the bell!” remarked Dana Bacak Finance Associate/Competitions Assistant, “I ran into people that I have not seen since high school graduation. I think we should do this again in the future, we had a great time!”
In a season that is steeped in tradition, the effort to start a new one, especially one that helps others is a worthwhile effort. For more information about the Salvation Army, check them out online at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org. |
