NASSAU — It wouldn't be Christmas without it. On busy street corners and in front of stores, the familiar ring of the bell, the sight of the bright red Salvation Army kettle, a combination that symbolises the true meaning of the holidays – the season of giving — has arrived.
And if there is a single moment that announces the arrival of that season, as punctuated as a ribbon-cutting seconds before a business flings open its doors, it's the clang of the first coin being dropped in the kettle.
On Saturday, in a ceremony under a dazzling November sun with people pausing and praying, The Bahamas National Youth Choir singing, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band playing, the official season of Yuletide giving got underway when Bahamian civil society icon Sir Orville Turnquest, GCMG, LLB, JP, former Governor General and Cabinet minister, slipped the first donation into the slotted top.
It was a gesture as dignified as the gentlemen who offered it for a cause as heart-warming as any imaginable. Sir Orville pointed out that the red kettles are a signal to others to share and care in the effort to lift up and bring happiness to many communities.
"I am personally proud to be a Life Member of The Army's Advisory Board here in The Bahamas, and in that capacity I invite and entreat as many residents as possible to reach out, not only at Christmas time, but throughout the year – to help, in what the Army is quietly but effectively doing," said Sir Orville. "I invite and beg the whole community to give generously to this 2007 drive...The funds collected go to provide special meals for needy individuals and families, toys and clothing for disadvantaged children, personal care products for the elderly and institutionalized and much, much more. In particular, and in very practical terms, the annual kettle drive ultimately evokes and abundance of wonderful yuletide smiles."
Reminding visitors and locals alike who participated in the celebration "we are all our brother's keeper," Sir Orville kicked off the 2007 season with the words: "I will begin the process now by making my own donation on behalf of myself and my wife, with the added promise of ensuring as far as possible that my children and other family members will do likewise." Within minutes, the bells were ringing on the north and south sides of the plaza and shoppers paused to give thanks and dollars.
Over the next month, volunteers will ring bells all over the islands, reminding passers-by that beyond the frenzy of shopping, the fretting over cooking and seating and invitations and wrapping, there are thousands of others less fortunate -- lonely, forgotten, neglected, often the elderly, the unemployed who cannot put a full meal on the table for their family, injured, homeless, those too poor to have any Christmas at all except for what The Salvation Army provides with the donations that the more fortunate offer.
"Answering the call of the bell is," says one volunteer, "such a simple motion with such a profound meaning, reaching into your pocket to reach out to others."
For many of the bell ringers, the call for giving turns into serious competition as civic and social clubs vie for who raised the most. Every year, those clubs that 'win' are honoured.
"The Bell-ringers who stand on street corners and in front of shops every year during the Kettle Drive raise funds that allow us to bring Christmas to so many persons," said Major Lester Ferguson, Divisional Com-mander of The Salvation Army. Last year, donations helped to serve hot meals to 500 persons at a festive Christmas lunch under tents at The Citadel, next to The Army's Mackey Street headquarters. Along with food came spiritual guidance, comfort and hope.
With money collected during the Kettle Drive, staff and volunteers called on the elderly, the forgotten, shut-ins, in many cases delivering wrapped packages that were the only gifts they would receive. Going house to house or room to room, they presented more than 3,300 packages of practical presents including toiletries for adults and the elderly, books for young readers and toys for little ones. Along with the hot meals, they distributed 1,225 vouchers for ham, turkey and other food and grocery items. They delivered more than 900 care packages for persons in hospitals and special care centres – senior citizens' homes and children's homes.
"Giving to others, sharing in spirit and hope and prayer, and remembering the real reason for Christmas are what make the season so special and every year we are thankful to be part of it and do our part in it," said Major Ferguson.
SWEET SERENADE — The National Youth Choir, under the direction of Cleophas Adderley, helped ring in the Christmas season with yuletide selections during the launch of The Salvation Army Kettle Drive Saturday in Rawson Square. (Photo by ROLAND ROSE for DPA)
