Bell ringer profile: Retired woman says seeing is believing
Debbie Lindboe is a Salvation Army bell ringer from Big Lake, Minn.
The retired IT professional loves ringing bells because she has seen, with her own eyes, how the money she raises helps people in need.
Debbie has witnessed the link between kettle donations and filling community needs during her time volunteering for The Salvation Army in other capacities. Over the past six years, she has helped The Salvation Army distribute winter coats, give away back-to-school supplies, distribute toys to children, and more. Sign up to ring.
“I’ve seen how kettle donations help people,” affirmed Debbie, while ringing outside Coborn’s grocery store in Big Lake. “I’ve seen how excited people get when they get a winter coat or a Christmas gift for their kids. It is important to have the funds to do all these programs. There are so many places the money goes.” (Pictured: Parents pick out toys at a Salvation Army toy distribution in Minneapolis in 2023.)
Debbie also enjoys her time at the Red Kettles because it fills her soul.
“I love ringing because everybody thanks you for ringing and you meet some really nice people,” said Debbie, a lifelong Minnesotan who moved to Big Lake from Cambridge about 13 years ago to help care for her parents. “One time, an elderly person brought me hot chocolate, out of the blue.”
In addition to giving her time to The Salvation Army, Debbie also donates money every month. She is proud to use her resources to support The Salvation Army.
“I think the world of The Salvation Army and everything they do,” she said. “Helping The Salvation Army is the right thing to do for someone like me who has been very fortunate and blessed in life. And it is so satisfying.”
Be a Bell Ringer
This holiday season, you can Be the Light in somebody’s life by ringing bells for The Salvation Army. Sign up to ring.
Your time at a Red Kettle will be a huge help for local families who need food, shelter and care. Bell ringers typically raise up to $100 per hour – enough to feed three families for week, or help save a family from eviction.
Bell ringing is fun and easy, with hundreds of kettle locations throughout Minnesota and North Dakota. Recruit your friends, family and coworkers to join you – and let your light shine even brighter.
Thousands of volunteer bell ringers are needed. Sign up now and help The Salvation Army provide a merry Christmas for people in need.