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Cape League Receives Salvation Army Civic Award

03/26/2008 9:02 AM

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Cape League Receives “Civic Bell Ringer” Award from 
Hyannis Corps Of Salvation Army

HYANNIS, Mass. -- Spring was in the air Feb. 12 as the Hyannis Corps of the Salvation Army held its first recognition tea with the Cape Cod Baseball League and one of its teams being honored for their efforts as volunteer bell ringers during the holidays. More than 60 volunteers gathered to honor award recipients and celebrate the spirit of volunteerism.


Major Ralph Hansen, corps commander of the Salvation Army, presents a plaque to John Garner of the Cape Cod Baseball League in recognition of the CCBL and Hyannis Mets' participation in the bell ringer program.

    John W. Garner Jr., director of public relations and broadcasting, accepted the awards on behalf of the league and the Hyannis Mets from Marlene Weir, the corps’ kettle coordinator and community relations director. She presented the first “Civic Bell Ringer” award to the league for outstanding effort and service in helping the needy through the bell ringer campaign and honored the Mets as the leading money-raiser among eight participating Cape League franchises. 

    Judy Walden Scarafile, Cape League president, led the partnership between the league and the Salvation Army Corps in Hyannis, by pledging to recruit as many of the 10 Cape League franchises to adopt a kettle stand during the holidays. Eight teams were able to respond and, predictably, a little contest ensued.

    Volunteers from the Mets first tried ringing at the Hyannis Stroll, but were foiled by a rainstorm. Undaunted, they pressed for a “makeup game” on Christmas Eve in front of the Christmas Tree Shoppe in Hyannis, where they raised nearly $700. In all, the League‘s eight bell-ringer teams – the Mets, Orleans Cardinals, Chatham A’s, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, Falmouth Commodores, Harwich Mariners, Cotuit Kettleers and Brewster Whitecaps -- saw $2,600 donated to the kettles on their watch.

    Other awards were presented to the Hyannis Rotary Club as the outstanding “Service Club Bell Ringer” and to Judy Underwood as the most dedicated and productive individual bell ringer. Underwood has rung with a bell in each hand in front of Kmart in Hyannis for more than 30 years. This Christmas past season, she volunteered for 12 hours a day, six days a week, greeting everyone with a “Merry Christmas” salute and a smile. 

    Major Ralph Hansen, corps commanding officer, presented the “Majors Award” to Jackie Ross of Hyannis, who volunteers as receptionist and at the food pantry year-round. The “Christmas Angel Award” went to Robert and Doris Broderick of Yarmouthport for the food pantry and for their preparation of Thanksgiving baskets and distribution to those in need. And Eiren Menhennitt, volunteer coordinator for RSVP, Senior Service Corps of Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands Inc. received the “Spirit of Christmas” award for providing volunteers to assist with the Dress a Live Doll program since 1994. 

    About The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 33 million Americans receive assistance from the Salvation Army each year through a broad array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 9,000 communities nationwide. More information is available at www.salvationarmy-ma.org.

  

John Garner, Jr.
Director of Public Relations & Broadcasting
(508) 790-0394
[email protected] 

Joe Sherman
Web Editor
(508) 775-4364
[email protected]