Page 6 December 14, 2017 TORRANCE TRIBUNE
TerriAnn in Torrance from front page
the time to volunteer.”
Not long after Jack had checked in with the
next set of volunteers, the Development and
Communications Coordinator for the Salvation
Army, Amy Hudson, stopped by to change
out the kettle. You see, after a few hours, the
kettle fills up. That is when Amy seemingly
magically appears and changes out the kettles.
There are 15 Red Kettles in Torrance. Amy
told me she enjoys the task. “And it is a time
to reach out to our volunteers and say hi and
thank you and show our appreciation,” Amy
said. “We have the Red Kettles at our locations
and halfway through the shift, or end
of the shift, we need to change the kettles
because they get a little too full--and that
way we can keep track of which shift and
how much each location and volunteer, or
paid worker, raises in their kettle.”
Amy has been involved with the Red
Kettles since she was in junior high school-
-and since she was part of the Salvation
Army Band, she remembers she would often
play by the kettles. Amy told me, “…the
services we provide all year long counts on
the donations received in the Red Kettles
during Christmastime. While the Salvation
Donating. Marges Zoghi wearing her heirloom ring from her grandmother
The rescued etched ring.
Army is a global organization, we work locally.
So if you put money in a kettle, you
can be sure it helps those around us in this
community.”
After Amy left, I watched the sea of shoppers
coming and going with their weekly
purchases. You could tell it was the holiday
time because many people were purchasing
light-up lawn decorations, like reindeer. The
children were attracted to the sound of the
bell and would smile. Some parents gave
coins to the children and they would run up
to the Red Kettle and drop in the coins. Jack
had left tiny candy canes for the children
and they loved the unexpected treat. Many
shoppers said they contribute monthly to the
Salvation Army. The mood was festive in spite
of the heat. I wonder what those who have
snow and cold would think of our “summer
winter” in California?
Then, one woman, Narges Zoghi, approached
the kettle with a handful of
money she had scooped up out of her
change purse. She happily slipped the money
into the opening on the Red Kettle. But there
was an unexpected clang. Something heavy
had just hit the bottom of the kettle. Ambassador
volunteer Charlene Nishimura’s eyes
widened and immediately told Narges that
she saw her ring slide into the Red Kettle!
Narges gasped, putting her hand over her
mouth, and then immediately tried opening
up the kettle to no avail. The kettles
are locked and can only be opened by the
Salvation Army personnel. I told Narges not
to worry, and Charlene immediately called
for assistance. Narges then said, “The ring
was my grandmother’s and she gave it to me
about 35 years ago. Anytime she prayed, she
would put it in her hand. And when I was
dropping the money, I accidentally dropped
it into the box.”
Narges placed her ring in the change purse
that morning because she said her fingers were
a bit swollen. She knew the swelling would
go down as the day went on, but she forgot
she had placed it with the change when she
scooped up the money to donate.
The Salvation Army was on the way!
Charlene was able to contact someone at
the main office who said they were sending
someone immediately to unlock the kettle, but
it would probably still be about 20 minutes
until they arrived. All this time, I was very
impressed with Narges’ composure. She
was very polite and did not complain and
said she would be back in a bit because she
had an errand to do. What was that errand?
Unbeknownst to us, Narges had items in her
trunk she intended on donating to the Salvation
Army! What are the odds of that? So
off she went to drop off her items.
To the rescue came Salvation Army angel
Shannon Brown with the key about 25
minutes later. She unlocked the kettle,
found the ring at the bottom, and handed
it to Charlene for safekeeping until Narges
returned from the Salvation Army Donation
Center. I asked Shannon if this sort of thing
happens often and she said no, but she did
say, “I am from East San Diego and this has
happened before.”
Narges arrived back at Sam’s Club, excitedly
looking forward to having her ring back.
Charlene presented her with her precious
heirloom, and Narges was all smiles as she
placed the ring on her finger. She looked down
at the ring and then up at us and said, “She
[my grandmother] told me anywhere you go,
that is like a blessing from me to you. [It is
etched with] God’s name, my dad’s name, a
few prophets, and saints that we believe. My
grandmother’s name was Kokab.”
Narges told me she immigrated to the United
States from Iran nearly 28 years ago and her
grandmother has passed on, so naturally the
ring has very special meaning to her.
Have you noticed the volunteers ringing
the bell beside the Red Kettles all over
Torrance? Would you like to get involved
and volunteer? It’s not too late! Get a group
together, or volunteer yourself and get into
the holiday spirit! Simply contact the Development
and Communications Coordinator
for the Torrance Corps, Amy Hudson at
amy.hudson@usw.salvationarmy.org, or call
310-370-4515, extension 103, and get ready
for some fun. Greet your neighbors, say
hello to friends, and wish everyone a very
Merry Christmas from the Salvation Army,
who help so many not only at Christmas,
but throughout the year. “…Silver bells,
silver bells, it’s Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring, soon it will be
Christmas Day.” •
Salvation Army Member Shannon Brown to the rescue, unlocking
the Red Kettle retrieving the ring.
Narges Zoghi about age eight, and her grandmother, Kolab.
Chamber Ambassador Jack Walser, Development and Communications Coordinator of the Torrance Salvation Army Amy Hudson, and
Ambassador Charlene Nishimura.
after it was retrieved from the bottom of the Red Kettle.
Kolab, Narges Zoghi’s grandmother. (L-R) Amanda, Chamber Ambassador, Charlene Nishimura, and
Chamber Ambassador, Charlotte Melsh.
“Take a second out of
the day today and be
thankful for your family.”
– Jenna Morasca