SM&P Rings the Bell for Local Families

SM&P is known for giving back to the local community throughout the year and during each holiday season. Victoria Turney, client relations manager, donated her time to ring the bell in support of the Salvation Army’s “red kettle” and Cobb County families. Victoria is no novice at bell ringing. She has been bringing Christmas cheer through her dedication to the iconic bell for 23 years.

This year, Victoria teamed up with some fellow Marietta Kiwanians to bring holiday inspiration to shoppers at the Towne Center Mall in Kennesaw. ”It’s fun,” said Victoria, “but it’s also a very serious endeavor for us. We know without the combined efforts of people throughout the area, some people will not have a merry Christmas or a better new year.”

The bell-ringing season starts in November and runs through Christmas Eve. Every dollar collected in red kettles supports Metro Atlanta Salvation Army’s homelessness services, youth enrichment efforts, and anti-trafficking programs. This year, due to COVID-19, the need is greater than ever. Since March, when the virus began to affect our community, the nonprofit has distributed 1,073,734 meals and provided 82,593 nights of shelter.

Volunteers like Victoria are the difference between an empty kettle and one that raises about $30 per hour – enough to provide a family with two bags of groceries or shelter one person for a night. According to the organization’s website, the generosity of all the volunteer bell ringers helped the organization collect donations that will directly impact almost 80,000 metro Atlanta residents.