Bell ringer profile: Energetic volunteer can ‘be himself’ at the Red Kettles
Lloyd Meissner is a 65-year-old bell ringing volunteer from Rogers, Minn., who works as an engineer.
In his spare time, he rings bells for The Salvation Army. He enjoys volunteering because he says can “be himself” at the Red Kettles.
Being himself means he is free to sing energetically and spread joy – without fear of people thinking he has a screw loose.
“At the kettles I can get away with being happy, and laughing, and singing, and giving away candy canes – and people don’t think I’m weird,” Lloyd said with a chuckle. “I really can be myself.”
Lloyd wasn’t always so uninhibited. He changed into the person he is today about five years ago, the moment he accepted Jesus Christ into his life.
“I had always been a Christian, but I had never fully let go and put my guard down,” said Lloyd, who later declared his faith by getting baptized in the Mississippi River. “God didn’t want some of me, he wanted all of me, all the time. There is a great power out there – all you have to do is let it in.”
He first started bell ringing six years ago as a way to spend quality time with his daughter, 35, and son, 33.
“My daughter sings with me at the kettles – but my son, not so much,” Lloyd said, laughing.
His go-to songs to sing are Silent Night and Mary’s Boy Child.
“Sometimes people will even come up and sing with me,” he added.
Lloyd is scheduled to ring bells five times this Christmas season, at various Cub grocery store locations in the northern Twin Cities suburbs. He loves to ring because it’s the perfect way to use his energetic personality to serve people in need.
“The Salvation Army is a great nonprofit that does great things for people,” he said. “Bell ringing is a great way to spread Christmas cheer.”
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.