The generosity of Halifax Stop & Shop shoppers put $7,855.63 into the kettle for the good works of the Salvation Army this Christmas season – and that doesn’t count the diamond ring, whose estimated value is between $800 and $1,000!
Halifax shoppers responded from their hearts when they heard the Salvation Army bell ringers, and opened their wallets to shatter previous years’ records of donations.
The bell ringers were welcomed at the Halifax Stop & Shop and invited to ring inside the store’s entryway where they could be warm and dry. Store manager Eddie Samuels has welcomed the Salvation Army inside its store since the store opened several years ago.
The bell ringers, many of whom are Halifax senior citizens, volunteered their time to help the Salvation Army meet their goal to help needy people and families in the area. Many people will be warm, fed, and clothed due to their generous gift of time. Bell ringers include: Tommy Schindler, Kevin Rogers, Jo Schofield, Dot Martel, Barbara Newcomb, Gerry Lambert, Pat Darrah, Dot Pease, Amy Merriam, Judy Yergeau, Marine Leighton Moore, Sharlene Capaccioli, Dylan Capaccioli, Jason Conroy, Amber Conroy, Sally Fontaine-Burke, Kim Aluisy Roy, Carl Faith, Glendale Duncan, Gerry Dribbon, Lynn Whalen, Loud Lasdow, Sharon Hartz, Brenda Fitzgerald, Julia Fitzgerald, Marissa Fitzgerald, Brenda Pettingill, Debbie Lawrence, Mackay Keegan, Diane Colantuone Cheverie, Michelle Dye-Striebel, Sammy Striebel, Martin Tuohey, Justin Jerome, Cill Jerome, Ellen Michaels, Tanya Little & Levi, Lisa Gilbert, Suzie Fontaine Hopps, Denise Driscoll, Ally Ryan, Brianna Foley, Shauna Foley, Sheryl Balerna, Brie Marsiotta, Kersten Santos and Ken Vinton!
Among the gifts in the bucket were an unscratched lottery ticket – which was a $10 winner, the diamond ring, and $50 bills and $100 bills. Halifax shoppers were generous.
Christine Tompkins, who helped organize the volunteers, also would like to thank the Twin Lakes Convenience Store for letting her set up a counter donations kettle, Rockland Trust Company tellers for counting the donations, and to whomever put the diamond ring and the lottery ticket into the kettle. It will all be put to good works. “Many needy families will be warm, fed, clothed and so much more due to your generosity! … We shattered every record this year: record number of volunteers and record donations! … I am proud of my town,” Tompkins said.