Great big family fights for good
The Schudas are a great big family that fights for good.
They hail from suburbs all across the Twin Cities and they first started volunteering for The Salvation Army in 2007, helping out at the MOST Amazing Race (pictured right).
Today the family specializes in bell ringing. They start ringing every Thanksgiving weekend, when 14 Schudas of all ages dress up in Turkey Day costumes and gather around a red kettle outside of their local Cub grocery store (pictured at top).
“It’s my mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces-in-law, sisters, nephews, and sons,” said Christi Schuda, who organizes the family bell ringing events. “We go with a fall theme and dress up like turkeys or pilgrims or Thanksgiving food.”
They divide themselves and take different shifts throughout the day. During the last hour, they unite and ring together as a family.
Christi’s sons, Parker and Cooper, have been ringing bells since they were babies.
“It’s important that we encourage our children to volunteer because we need to promote the next generation to reach out and help those in need,” Christi said.
The Schuda family is inspired to volunteer because some of them grew up on welfare. They like to volunteer with the Salvation Army because they know the money they raise provides food, shelter, clothing, and other basic needs for people who are in desperate need.
Christi believes everyone should volunteer because it’s personally rewarding and it has a big impact on the community.
“There are 101 ways to volunteer,” she said. “Find the one thing that’s right for you. It could be volunteering at the food kitchen or ringing the bell for an hour. Every little bit helps.”
Poverty is an everyday battle that families don’t always win. Thankfully, there is an army of loving people like you who fight on their behalf. Your generosity puts food on their table, presents under their tree, and joy in their hearts. Join the fight for good by donating online or at a red kettle, becoming a volunteer bell ringer, or recruiting your own army of fundraisers at FundraiseForGood.org.