Salvation Army volunteer rings for bigger picture

EAST COUNTY — Patrons who shop at one East County grocer Monday, Wednesday or Friday this holiday season are guaranteed to see at least one smiling face before they enter or leave the store.

With red-painted nails and Santa and holly pins decorating her red apron, Cheryl Lee sits between piles of firewood and a display of poinsettias at the entrance of Publix, located at the corner of State Road 64 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

“Have a wonderful day and a Merry Christmas,” Lee says to a family entering the store.

Lee is a Salvation Army bell ringer. This is her first year volunteering for the organization.

From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., three days per week through Dec. 24, Lee rings her bell and gathers donations for the Salvation Army.

“I’m having the time of my life,” Lee says, while smiling and waving to a mother and her child walking toward the parking lot.

For the 64-year-old, who spent more than 30 years in a career that kept her on her feet, the nine-hour days she spends sitting in a fold-up chair and socializing is almost a leisurely activity.

Lee is a retired child abuse investigator. She also inspected day care centers and later taught state-mandated training courses for childcare workers.

She dealt with difficult situations that sometimes led to the relocation of children who had to live with other families because of abuse or other situations.

“I was always the bad guy throughout my career,” Lee says. “Being an investigator was a tough job to do, mostly because someone always thought I did something wrong. Parents don’t want you to take their children away, and children sometimes don’t want to leave their parents, even if there’s abuse. It’s tough.”

Lee also helped low- or no-income families receive the aid they needed for food, shelter and other necessities.

Throughout her 39 years in services relating to children and families, she worked closely with the Salvation Army. She regularly talked with representatives of the organization and was often the liaison between in-need families and the Salvation Army.

Lee admired the company and its commitment to helping families, she says. So, when she retired, she reached out to the organization and received the temporary position.

Her jingle bell started ringing Nov. 12.

Now, she’s helping families in a more indirect way.

All dollars donated to Lee’s red bucket go directly to in-need families in Manatee County. Signage at Lee’s post promises donors their dollars won’t be tied up in overhead charges or administrative costs.

“I’m on the other side of helping families now,” Lee says, smiling. “And, it’s a wonderful side to be on.”

But Lee isn’t just hoping to brighten someone else’s day with a smile or by being a good listener.

She’s making her own sunshine by getting to know people again, she says.

“Doing this lets me reconnect with children and families,” Lee says. “Kids love ringing the bell and parents love when their children get attention. I say it and I mean it. I’m having the time of my life.”

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].