Can't get through to ring bells

[RobinLayne]

Hi, I have rang the bells for the Salvation Army many years now. This year, I cannot get through to a human being even to leave me a message about when orientation is in my area or anything. Every year it's different. What can I do? What may be happening?

 

[Abiel]

I'm in the UK where we arent allowed to ring bells- so I'm not sure I can help you. If you can't make contact with a local centre, you could try the divisional headquarters. But why not call into a local centre in person- it could just be a misunderstanding.

 

[sreno7]

Hmm if you contact family or community services there should be someone who can help you. We dont ring bells at the kettles anymore here. The store staff didnt' like it.

 

[Andy Broadley]

Hmm if you contact family or community services there should be someone who can help you. We dont ring bells at the kettles anymore here. The store staff didnt' like it.

I wish we could do it. It would be lovely

 

[RobinLayne]

I kept calling back and getting recordings that were not replied to, but I finally reached a person in the nick of time to go to orientation the next morning. Now I am playing the same sad game trying to find out if they will give me the day off that I'm asking for and what the pay is this year. I keep forgetting to ask where I will be stationed, although they know my preferences. I start in 6 days and so many of my plans are up in the air because they won't tell me what's to be! But I am grateful they are starting early. I need money very badly so I can't do this as a volunteer.

That is really the pits that they won't let you ring the bells in the U.K. I know some people think the bells are annoying (I even used to), but some people play a musical instrument instead. I sing carols and hymns as I ring my bell. People do enjoy my voice.

Are all 3 of you in the U.K.? How do you collect money for the poor if you don't ring bells at Christmas time?

 

[Andy Broadley]

I kept calling back and getting recordings that were not replied to, but I finally reached a person in the nick of time to go to orientation the next morning. Now I am playing the same sad game trying to find out if they will give me the day off that I'm asking for and what the pay is this year. I keep forgetting to ask where I will be stationed, although they know my preferences. I start in 6 days and so many of my plans are up in the air because they won't tell me what's to be! But I am grateful they are starting early. I need money very badly so I can't do this as a volunteer.

That is really the pits that they won't let you ring the bells in the U.K. I know some people think the bells are annoying (I even used to), but some people play a musical instrument instead. I sing carols and hymns as I ring my bell. People do enjoy my voice.

Are all 3 of you in the U.K.? How do you collect money for the poor if you don't ring bells at Christmas time?

We have the band out playing carols at Christmas time, and we collect then.

 

[sreno7]

I am in Canada, we still have the kettles but we just don't ring bells at them.
Some people sing. They are usually at the entrance to a store so everyone sees it. We can't do Costco this year.

 

[Victrixa]

Wow.. kettles! I've done kettles so many times and I loved it! (We can't ring bells in Canada anymore??? ) I loved ringing those bells...

 

[Andy Broadley]

Wow.. kettles! I've done kettles so many times and I loved it! (We can't ring bells in Canada anymore??? ) I loved ringing those bells...

Ah caroling.

Numb feet, chillblained fingers, frozen lips.....

Such fun

 

[Victrixa]

Ah caroling.

Numb feet, chillblained fingers, frozen lips.....

Such fun

That's the fun part of it, isn't it?

(Have you ever done kettles at -20 degrees Celsius? Believe me, you freeeeeeze! Yikes. )

 

[Theophorus]

I am in Canada, we still have the kettles but we just don't ring bells at them.
Some people sing. They are usually at the entrance to a store so everyone sees it. We can't do Costco this year.

Really! Why not? Is outrage.

 

[RobinLayne]

Thank you for your responses. Here is an update: I finally got through to a person at the office and just in the nick of time, praise God! The very next day was orientation. We started ringing the week before Thanksgiving, and worked through Christmas Eve (the day I got sick). I sing while I ring, and people love my voice. It was uplifting to be able to do all that singing and also to be complimented on it. This ended the depression I had been suffering and also brought me some needed money.
God bless you all!