Bell of the ball

WASILLA — Maj. Verna Hughes spends much of her holiday season jangling a bell, but she’s no ding-a-ling.

For about 30 years, Hughes and husband Maj. Dan Hughes have spent countless hours smiling and bell-ringing for the Salvation Army. The couple has an extensive record of service with the charitable organization, including the past eight years in the Valley. On Thursday, Verna — who resembles a contemporary and friendly Mrs. Santa Claus — sported a big smile and rosy cheeks trying to fill the familiar red kettle at the Wasilla Fred Meyer store.

For the Salvation Army Mat-Su, the holidays are “big time,” she said, beginning with the day after Thanksgiving.

“Without the money to pay for our services and food for people, we couldn’t do what we do,” she said. “It is big time, because we have 426 baskets to give out, and the toys. It all stays in the Valley.”

Those baskets go to Valley families, she said, and include turkey and all the trimmings for at least three meals. If a family has children, they also get toys to give them as presents.

So far, the effort has gone well.

“We need more volunteers, and I’ve been sitting here thinking about how to get the word out,” Hughes said. “We’re really working hard to keep the three Fred Meyer stores and Wal-Mart staffed — when the weather is good.”

Earlier in the week, bone-chilling winds put a damper on some of the bell-ringing, she said. “It’s inhumane to put someone out there when the weather’s bad and they have to stand outside.”

It wasn’t too toasty Thursday, either. But Hughes was bundled up and waving at passersby going in and out of the store. For a Salvation Army wife who spends most of the year performing behind-the-scenes tasks for the organization, ringing a bell is a high note.

“It’s about giving, and that’s the truth,” she said. “It’s good to be out here and meeting the people this way. It puts a nice incentive to it, and the attitude of people is very giving.”

Some bell-ringers have a flair, Hughes said. They’ll ring with a particular cadence or do a little dance to entertain potential givers.

That’s not her style.

“Some people do that, but I’m not musically inclined,” she said. “So, I just ring the bell.”

The trick is to “have a lot of patience,” Hughes said, “and don’t get bored with the ding-ding.”

Over the couple’s years of service to the Salvation Army, they’ve been posted to six different communities, Hughes said. At eight years and counting, the Valley post is their longest assignment. It’s also her favorite.

“This is my favorite place, for real,” she said. “I like going home and not having somebody 10 feet from my house. I like the outdoors, the hiking, and the people are like they were 50 years ago — very open and helpful.”

What keeps Hughes picking up that bell year after year, decade after decade are those local folks.

“Different stories come your way where people share how they received help at some point and that’s why they’re giving,” she said. “This morning, somebody walked by and said, ‘I gotta give; you saved my son’s life.’ That is terrific. That makes it all worth it. I can take a little cold and a little pain to be able to serve people.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.

ADOPT A FAMILY

What: Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family program.

Details: People sign up to sponsor a local family in need for the holidays. They receive a list of family members and their wish lists and shop for them anonymously. There are 17 adopting families in the Valley this year, but more are needed.

Contact: To adopt a family or learn more, call 745-7079.