Karen and her Kettle: Shields rings bells, dons flair for Salvation Army

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Karen Shields brings a liveliness to bell ringing at the Piggly Wiggly in Prairie du Chien during the holiday season. The Salvation Army has bell ringers at two locations throughout the season. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press).

By Steve Van Kooten

 

“Are you the greeter?” A man asked.

“Well, I am! I’m with the Salvation Army,” Karen Shields said, a wide smile across her face as she shook her bells to the customers as they filtered in and out of the Piggly Wiggly in Prairie du Chien. The man nodded and set his bags aside to dig out his wallet. Next to Shields was a red bucket anyone could stop and drop money into for the Salvation Army’s cause.

After she thanked him, Shields turned back toward the parking lot and waved at the cars cruising past. A woman behind the wheel of her SUV smiled as she traveled past the lady clad in a puffy red overcoat and bright green Christmas top hat.

“You’d be surprised how many people pull up here because they like it and smile,” Shields said. She stated cars have even stopped to empty their change into her bucket.

After Thanksgiving, for three days a week, Shields goes out to ring bells and every time out she’s garbed in an attention-grabbing, festive costume to match her enthusiastic persona. “I’m never one to pass up an opportunity to get dressed up and maybe draw attention to a cause or something that I’m doing.”

Shields had a presence like a street mime or a magician; she engaged with the people that walked past her. Sometimes they’d smile, deposit some coins in the bucket and move on, but others stopped and talked to her. Shields had conversations with people about their time in wars or something they were looking forward to for Christmas. And for Shields that is an achievement.

“If I accomplish a smile, then my goals are met.”

Besides the Piggly Wiggly, the Salvation Army rings bells outside Walmart in Prairie du Chien to garner donations. Shields pointed out the donations received in Crawford County’s kettles would remain in Crawford County to support the local residents.

In 2022, the Salvation Army raised $13,794.47, and the hope has been the 2023 season would surpass that amount. Shields has been a committed contributor to their efforts, and, thanks to her memorable showmanship, she has created memories for people in the community along the way.

“How could you resist a smile and a Merry Christmas?”

The Crawford County Salvation Army continues to look for volunteers during the holiday season as well as seek a Kettle Coordinator for 2024.

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