by Trevor Darago
Bill Youman, 82, has become almost as iconic as the red kettle he mans in his hometown of Terre Haute, Ind. He’s been volunteering for more than a decade. In 2022, his eleventh year, he hit the incredible milestone of having raised $122,000, surpassing his goal by more than $20,000.
He says he simply wants to do as much good as he can and that as a man of faith bellringing is part of his ministry.
“There are two principles of Christianity: faith and service,” Bill said. “In the book of James, the Bible tells us, ‘Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead,’ and there is no action simpler than just ringing that bell.”
He has trained to ring more than 360 hours in 10-hour shifts.
“I don’t take any breaks while I’m at the kettle,” he explained. “Though I get tired, and get kind of achy at times, I try to remember the experiences of people in need around the world. Their tragedies seem unreal, beyond anything we could imagine.”
Bill says he’s been blessed to hear people’s stories. Many he’ll never forget.
“One woman told me of her grandfather, a doughboy from WWI,” he recalled. “His first sighting as he stepped foot on the shores of America was The Salvation Army with coffee, donuts, and the warmest of welcomes.”
One of the most moving stories was shared by an elderly woman whose father died when she was young. His death left the family in shambles, but in their time of need The Salvation Army provided clothes and toys on Christmas morning. “Though she was just a child at the time,” he said, “she still remembers.”
Captain Jeremy Fingar, Terre Haute, Ind., corps officer said, “Bill is an excellent example of what dedication can do for a community.”
