What a great way to start a morning!  This Thursday morning was “Realtor Day” and as an Alain Pinel Realtors’ volunteer, I took my place in front of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Post Office and rang the bell for donations for the Salvation Army.  People were so nice and so generous I decided this was something I would like to do every year.  Holiday time is a time to have gratitude for all the blessings we have and to be generous to others who are in need.  The Salvation Army helps those in need year round.  Many people stopped to chat.  Some told me they used to ring the bell themselves and one woman told me how the Salvation Army had helped her when she was in need as she stuffed my kettle with bills.

Good morning!, Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Thank you! kept flying out of my mouth.  By the end of the two hours I was on a “holiday high”!  See you next year at this time . . . I’ll be ringing my bell!

The Salvation Army has been working together with the Monterey Peninsula community for over 130 years. Through their various programs they provide services to the homeless, low-income families, and youth of all ages and run a holiday assistance program each Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Salvation Army currently has representation in 124 different countries worldwide, in addition to nearly 8,000 centers of operation across the United States.