For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 21, 2014

When I was a Salvation Army bell ringer, sometimes passers-by would give me a hot chocolate.

Lizzie is a sweet child…

Depending upon where you live, the rules can be restrictive enough that it gets hard setting up stations.

MayKitten… Where in the world did you come up with that idea?

There have been various charities using bell ringers, over the years, but most these days, in the US anyway, are from the Salvation Army.

Most of them are volunteers, but not all.I know a (low) paid S.A. bell ringer, and almost took the job myself some years back when I was unemployed, before I found other work. They wear a red apron…. supplied by the organization… over their regular clothes.They’re encouraged to wear their own Santa hats… but there’s no requirement that they be any particular quality…. some are from the dollar store.

If they want to buy or rent a Santa suit, they may wear it…. cheap or expensive, as long as it’s respectful to the SA and the Santa tradition, but it’s not particularly encouraged by my local organisation cos it confuses children.

Many years ago, I’m told, they provided velvet Santa suits for a few of the volunteers to wear, but they got very old and worn out a long time ago.

They would never ask their volunteers or their mostly low-income paid bell-ringers to provide a $500 costume!

11:38 AM UTC: It’s 12°F in Lynn Lake, Manitoba.

Lizzie is a typical little girl for her age but she definitely has her heart in the right place and, of course, she is very cute ! ! ! !

Though it’s late, the holiday is still going on; so, Happy Hanukkah!

Nice to see a strip in which none of the commenters bash Elly, or grinds an axe.

And a Joyous Yule!Today’s the solstice, so pull out that Yule log. There’s only 9 hours, 11 and a half minutes of daylight today.

Remember, when this strip was originally printed, you use to see Santa bell ringers.

My mother taught us kids to never pass a kettle without putting something in. It might only be the quarter from the bottom of my purse, or the dollar in my pocket but I still to this day try and always put cash in when I go by.

That’s a pretty shapely Santa in frame #4.

Lizzie has the Right idea about Christmas. Goodwill to all.

she’s only nice one day of the year and than the rest of the year look out!!

yes

Salvation Army literally saved my son’s life with their Adult Rehabilitation program. I donate everything to them instead of Goodwill, and try to help fill the kettles at Christmastime.

This is a very sweet comic today.

My Rotary Club rings bells for Salvation Army for two days. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other civic groups always help out. SA supplies the kettles, red aprons and bells. The rest is up to you. One of our members challenges people to put money in the kettle. If you put in a dollar, I’ll put in 2. Usually gets a few takers. Whatever you put in I’ll match. One old guy tried to stump him. He threw in a $100 and our guy reached in his other pocket and matched it! Thank you very much Sir!

We have the Salvation Army ringers in our town every Christmas. I was able to help out a few times. It is fun to ring and meet a lot of nice people!

@MayKitten: well done.

I once saw a Salvation Army bell ringer who was clearly cold and I had a gorgeous but wrong size sweater I had just put in the car to take to Goodwill. It fit him like it was made for him, and his gratitude was the best Christmas present I got all year.

Very nice!