Giving back to her community
Mary Ann Eavenson and her husband man the Salvation Army donation station at Bi-Mart
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Friday, November 28, 2008 10:40 AM PST
ONTARIO — With the front of the Bi-Mart store in the shadows, Salvation Army bell ringer Mary Ann Eavenson, Nyssa, wrapped herself up in coats and sweaters as the temperatures dropped.Then she cheerfully greeted customers as they came and went and graciously thanked those who dropped money in her kettle. The Salvation Army placed its holiday kettles and bell ringers out early to begin collecting the donations that will be used to help people in need. Eavenson has teamed up with her husband, Steve, in manning the station in front of Bi-Mart.
“I started ringing bells this year,” Eavenson said Tuesday. “This is my third day.”
Her husband was the bell ringer at Bi-Mart last year and “really enjoyed it,” she said,
“So we decided to share his place,” she said. She said her husband works at Dairygold in Caldwell and so he is not able to be at Bi-Mart the whole week, so she takes Tuesday and Wednesdays, and he will be in front of the store Thursdays (except today), Fridays and Saturdays.
“It is a way to give back to the community,” Eavenson said, who is at her post from about 10:15 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Foot traffic was fairly steady Tuesday and about half of the people were making a donation, from a few pennies to one woman who promised to bring back a check.
“I tell them even a penny helps,” Eavenson said. She said she enjoys seeing the people and seeing their generosity. There are also kettles and bell ringers at Red Apple and Wal-Wart, Eavenson said, adding they work double shifts at Wal-Mart.
“This district is out of Caldwell,” she said.
Eavenson does not volunteer just around Christmas time, however.
“I volunteer at the (Nyssa) Middle School and the Nyssa Community Food Pantry,” she said, adding at her church she coaches a youth quiz team. And the Eavensons do give back to the community. Bell ringers are paid minimum wage, Eavenson said.
“Most of our pay we donate back into the kettle,” she said adding the rest will be use to defray travel costs to competition for the quiz team.
