West Hartford Group Participates in Bell-Ringing for Good
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Continuing a tradition, some members of the Old Guard, a retired men's group in West Hartford, greet passersby and solicit contributions to the Salvation Army kettle. They have staffed this location at the LaSalle Road Post Office between Thanksgiving and Christmas for decades. Courtesy photo
The Old Guard, which meets at Westminster Church in West Hartford, helped raise money for the Salvation Army during the holiday season.
Submitted by Don Kauke
The sounds of the bells and the look on smiling faces are now just a memory, but the results have again yielded thousands of dollars in contributions for the Hartford Salvation Army.
Carrying on a long-time tradition, 40 members of the Old Guard were stationed outside the LaSalle Road Post Office on the five Saturdays preceding Christmas. The familiar Red Kettle was the focus with contributions being made by young and old. A virtual “kettle” was also available to Old Guard members, and combined, provided over $5,000 to the Salvation Army for their work in providing aid for emergencies, meals and toys for children.
President John Keleher says that “The Old Guard is proud to serve the community, and this tradition is only one of their regular contributions. Since its inception 56 years ago, our members have delivered Meals on Wheels every week. Forty members now contribute their time to this activity, working in pairs, 52 weeks a year. Members also help to sort food contributions at the FoodShare facility and others work with Habitat at their ReStore facility in Bloomfield. And in season, they enjoy golf or bowling as well. There are numerous opportunities to enjoy each other’s company and benefit the community.”
Over 200 members strong, the Old Guard provides opportunities for retired members for fellowship and education, as well as these contributions to the community. Weekly Tuesday morning meetings feature guest presentations from leaders of government, education, industry, and community organizations.
The group meets at the Fellowship Hall of Westminster Presbyterian Church on the Boulevard in West Hartford. More information about the Old Guard is available at their web site at ctoldguard.org or Membership Chair Mike Cabrey at [email protected].
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