VACAVILLE YOUTH RAISE FUNDING FOR THE SALVATION ARMY

Wiggling, giggling and dancing their hearts out with Santa hats on their little heads, members of the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club this week rang bells for donations for The Salvation Army.
Tuesday afternoon, the boys and girls clustered near one of the entrances/exits at Lucky’s Supermarkets on East Monte Vista Avenue for their fifth annual event.
Offering brilliant smiles and just a bit of spice to each other and passersby, the youths clanged their bells with gusto while shouting “Merry Christmas.”
It was just the first shift for club kids, with the second slated to relieve them in a few hours.
The event raises finances that will help The Salvation Army help community members in need. It’s a purpose that the kids had down pat.
“It’s for the homeless,” explained Janissa Rivera, 13. “I feel bad for them. I want them to have homes like us. So we’re gonna do this for The Salvation Army for them.”
Anaya Roosevelt, 7, said she wanted to make sure that homeless neighbors in Solano have enough to eat.
“I feel bad for them, that they have to starve,” she said.
Volunteer and event founder Susan Schwartz, who was named a Woman of the Year by Congressman John Garamendi, D-Solano, in part for her work with the club youths, said the bell-ringing teaches great lessons and gets the kids some real-life experience.
“They get the feeling of giving back, of being out with adults,” she said. “And, it’s fun. They love spending time out here.”
It’s a project, she continued, with lasting impact.
“They talk about it every year,” she said. “They look forward to it. It’s something they’ll remember.”
The youths will be ringing bells a final time tonight, starting from about 3:45 p.m. in front of Walmart.