Bundled up in a coat and scarf, Patricia Hollis smiled and spoke to customers outside Kroger in Columbus Wednesday morning as she rang the familiar Salvation Army bell.
Hollis, 55, was about 90 minutes into her 10 a.m.-7 p.m. shift ringing the bell, part of the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle fundraising campaign. Unforgiving brisk temperatures aside, Hollis’ good mood didn’t waver.
“It’s cold,” she admitted. “But once you get started, you get used to it.”
Hollis’ smile, her attitude and her sense of duty to her Red Kettle shift also took no visible account of how her morning started — getting one of her three weekly dialysis treatments for a kidney disease she has fought for the last five years.
“It’s a little bit tough,” she said. “But it’s alright. I can hang.”
Hollis, a Columbus native, started ringing the bell for Salvation Army three years ago, following several years working at McDonald’s. She’s one of about 20 paid bell-ringers the organization employs during the holiday season for the fundraiser that pays a hefty share of its benevolent operations throughout the subsequent year, whether it’s paying utility bills for those in need, providing food and clothing, or helping through many other programs.
“It just helps in a plethora of ways,” said Lt. Christian Smith, now in his second year as director for the Columbus Salvation Army. “I’m just in awe of Patricia’s work ethic and how much she cares for her community.”
For Hollis, she wanted to start ringing the bell after she saw others doing it around town. Once she signed on, she was a natural.
“I speak to people, tell them Merry Christmas and tell them ‘thank you’ when they donate,” Hollis said. “You meet so many different people and some will stop, talk to you and tell you what’s going on with them. … Someone (earlier) was telling me about how her daughter had just graduated college.”
Her example is catching.
Patricia’s daughter, Latricia Hollis, moved home from Michigan last year. After watching her mother ring the bell, she signed up for this year. Latricia said she’s already worked five shifts – three at Kroger and two at Hobby Lobby – and she doesn’t plan on letting up.
“When I saw what it was, I thought, ‘Why not? It’s for a good cause,'” Latricia said. “I’ll be back next year.”
Though Patricia doesn’t talk so freely about the details, her kidney disease causes other health complications, Latricia said. She’s “on the list” for a kidney transplant. Until then, she undergoes dialysis on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
All the while, Patricia’s attitude remains firmly positive, especially when it comes to working with Red Kettle.
“She’s kind of weak after dialysis, but when it comes to ringing that bell, if they need her she’s coming,” Latricia said of her mother. “No matter what health issue she’s going through, she’s out there smiling.”
The reason, Patricia said, is simple.
“I want to help people,” she said. “I plan on doing this for several more years.”
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.