Some members of the Sidney Central School Interact Club have been giving back this holiday season by taking shifts as bell ringers for the Salvation Army.
The students have been doing it at the Great American.
Interact, a community service-based club sponsored by Rotary, is for students in grades 9-12. The club holds activities a couple of times each month. There are more than 70 members.
Collin Searles, a freshman officer, said the experience of volunteering with the Salvation Army was positive.
“I’ve lived here my whole life and want to help the community,” he said. “It’s a great cause. It’s good to help out.”
Students said they tried to interact with people as they came by, not just ringing the bell.
“I’d greet people when they came in,” freshman Thomas Cartossa said. “I think when people see younger people ringing the bell, they want to help out.”
“We would say Merry Christmas and ask how they were doing,” Searles said. “We also played Christmas music to spread the holiday cheer.”
There were about 10-15 students who were part of the bell ringing this year. Shifts are typically an hour long and sometimes included two students.