Legacy Volunteers Up-Hold Time Honored Traditions

Mar 12, 2025 | by Rebecca Turnbull

We are People Powered, especially at Christmas.

Over the years, groups, families, businesses and friends have experienced the magic of giving and embraced it as an annual tradition. Be it bell ringing, volunteering at the Christmas Center, adopting an Angel or hosting a donation drive, Greater Richmond is ‘rich’ with generosity. This month we feature two such legacies who have been Doing The Most Good over many decades: meet the ladies of the Delta Sigma Theta Petersburg Alumnae Chapter and Colin H. and his family.

Article originally published in the 2024 December First Friday Newsletter

Colin H. and Family

It was 1999 when the local Kiwanis group in Mechanicsville put out the call for bell ringers, and Colin and his wife signed up without hesitation, with their then three-year-old and infant in tow. Since then, they’ve been bell ringers every year, inviting newcomers into the fold like grandparents and the high school chorus.

They expanded the giving to include adopting Angels and Silver Bells and volunteering as a family at the Christmas Center. “Shopping for angels with the girls and volunteering at the Christmas Center are some of my fondest memories. We plan our holiday around when we can volunteer,” said Colin.

Though ringing for a few hours it might seem small, it pays big dividends. “We don’t know who we are helping, but there have been a few times when individuals have come up to me at the red kettle to share how they have been helped by The Salvation Army — that is really powerful,” recounts Colin. Thank you Colin and family!

Delta Sigma Theta Alumnae

The Delta Sigma Theta Petersburg Alumnae Chapter was formed more than 80 years ago, and for nearly 50 of those years the chapter has rung every year without fail, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It’s a tradition that alumnae Joanne, Tanisha and Nancy speak fondly of as they shared memories of their favorite moments and why they show up to ring every year.

Why do they do it? To help out; to have fun; to reunite with their Sisters — especially during COVID as it was the only opportunity to volunteer; and to witness kids have their “aha” moment of Doing The Most Good when they drop money into the red kettle. Whatever the reason for ringing this season, they all agree that the best moment is the expression that appears across a child’s face when they drop money into the red kettle and realize that their act of kindness is going to make a difference.