Sandi Thiessen apparently doesn’t need much of an excuse to bust a move, and volunteering at a Salvation Army donation kettle is reason enough.
The Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministry is gathering volunteers for its annual Christmas kettle campaign, and Thiessen was out in front of the No Frills in Maple Ridge on a weekday afternoon, dancing away a two hour shift, ringing bells, and inspiring donors.
She’s gets people driving past hand her a $20 bill through their car window, to support the Sally Ann and the dancing queen’s great attitude.
One of the Salvation Army’s standout bellringers, she took 24 kettle shifts when she first started during the 2020 campaign.
“I did 48 hours of dancing, and lost some of my COVID weight,” said the retired nurse. “Dancing keeps me active, and it keeps me warm.”
Thiessen loves to dance, obviously. At the age of 38, she began taking dance lessons, keeping it up until she was 60. She’s still doing line dancing and flamenco.
She’s just as dedicated to volunteering. Thiessen has family that benefited from the Salvation Army’s programs in the past, so giving back to them as a bellringer is a bonus.
“I enjoy it because I get to meet local people, and it’s such a good cause.”
She also prepares food for the organization’s school lunch program. In 2020 when she started, she made 87 sandwiches at a time, but demand has grown tremendously.
“On Mondays now, there’s 500 sandwiches that go out,” she said. “The need is huge.”
Sally Ann spokesperson Amelia Norrie said the local campaign needs to recruit more bellringers for the kettles throughout the Christmas season.
“We started last Friday (Nov. 14), and we are definitely in need of more volunteers,” said Norrie. “We had a good first weekend, and we’re hoping to have great ones.”
The goal this year is to raise $125,000. That’s well up from the $86,000 donated to the local campaign last year, but a modest increase on the best-ever mark of $121,000 that the kettles garnered in 2021.
“The need is huge. The cost of living is going up consistently, and everyone is having a hard time,” said Norrie, and added that donor fatigue can be a factor.
There will be kettles posted at 12 locations from Harris Road in Pitt Meadows to 240th Street in Maple Ridge – high traffic locations such as grocery and liquor stores.
The charity asks volunteers to be at the kettles for just two hours at a time, and there are 66 shifts each day, or 132 hours of volunteer time.
Some volunteers simply ring bells and greet passersby, while others sing Christmas carols. Some sports teams, including the junior hockey Ridge Meadows Flames, will take kettle shifts.
Norrie explained the kettle funds are critical to community and family services provided by the charity, and these include emergency food hampers for households, school lunch bags for children, school supplies, community meals, and the Sonia’s Cradle program that offers support for babies and toddlers.
“If we have a good kettle season, we can expand community and family services,” noted Norrie.
Not everyone dances at a kettle, but many contribute, said Thiessen.
When a senior comes to her kettle, says they’ve been saving some money to donate, and pulls out a full change purse, it brings a tear to Thiessen’s eye.
“It may not be much money, but they saved for it,” she said. “We’re one of the most amazing communities – very giving. I love that we live in a community that steps up to the plate.”
To get involved, or to donate, see ridgemeadowssa.ca