Bell Ringer

Homeless on Christmas

Ruth Hsieh

I remember being homeless at the Salvation Army women's shelter in 2009, on and off at the Spratt Street location. I had a bottle of Sangria, but someone caught me and I got busted. The counselor sent me to an Alcoholics Anonymous program.

I was feeling depressed but also excited about Christmas. Being homeless in the women's shelter, everyone is a stranger, yet everyone is like a temporary family.

I was assigned to be a Salvation Army Bell Ringer, collecting donation money for the charity. I stood in front of South Park Mall ringing the bell.

As people donated, I asked to pray for those in need. There was a man asking for prayers for his daughter not to be so materialistic. At the end of the day, someone was dishonest and ran off with the donation money. Thankfully, I wasn't involved, and I received a paycheck from the Salvation Army office. I loved my job as a Salvation Army Bell Ringer. What a wonderful Christmas gift from God!