By Kathleen BergerRecord Staff WriterIt is 19 degrees outside but that hasn’t deterred 85-year-old Dee Turner of Holtsein who is dressed for the weather.Turner is a volunteer bell ringer for the Agape Ministry Salvation Army Bell Ringing Campaign.Standing next to the red kettle outside of Warrenton’s Wal-Mart, Dee tops off her coat with a warm scarf and a warm smile.“If you’re friendly, they’re usually friendly back and giving,” said Turner.Dee stood alongside fellow bell ringer, Bob Painter, exclaiming a friendly “Merry Christmas” to every person who walked by. They are both members of Immanuels United Church of Christ in Holstein.Dee’s cheerful greetings and Bob’s bell ringing get the attention of many shoppers.Shopper Nancy Hundley of Jonesburg told Dee that she has never passed a kettle without giving something.“One year my kids wouldn’t have had Christmas if it weren’t for the Salvation Army,” Hundley said. That was 18 years ago. Ever since, Hundley said she would always give any amount she could spare every time she walked by a red kettle. Hundley said she will never forget what the Salvation Army did for her three boys.“It was a big year, it was the only way they could get something from me,” she said.This month Agape Ministry of Warren County is recruiting volunteer bell ringers. Agape is partnering with the Salvation Army: for every dollar dropped into the red kettle, 85 cents goes directly to needy families in Warren County through Agape Ministry.Agape Interim Director Carleen Williams said this year’s goal for bell ringers is to raise $14,000. In the first two weekends of the holiday season, bell ringers at Wal-Mart in Warrenton and Economy Supermarket in Wright City raised about $5,000.Williams said the campaign is on track to meet the $14,000 goal if she can staff some weekday shifts in addition to the upcoming holiday weekends. Agape is pushing for bell ringers on Monday, Dec. 16 through Friday, Dec. 20.More than 80 individuals or groups are still needed to staff two-hour shifts, spreading holiday cheer at the red kettles during those five extra days before Christmas.“An unmanned kettle brings in next to nothing, so we want to see volunteers at those kettles,” said Williams. “We love the groups. We love the ones with children because people give when they see little kids singing and being happy and joyful. But really any volunteers are needed — anyone at any age. When our volunteers are smiling and chipper and happy, saying ‘God bless’, singing a song, whistling — it just makes a big difference.”The coins and bills dropped into red kettles provide year-round assistance to Warren County families suffering from hardships. The money helps with basic needs, including food and utility bills.Christmas ToysToys for Christmas, on the other hand, is another Christmas story. That Agape program is called Share-A-Christmas and is another Agape Ministry mission.“Our Share-a-Christmas Program is where we have groups, organizations, churches and individuals fill out an application to sponsor a family,” said Williams.Families who can’t afford to provide toys or Christmas gifts for their children, ages 18 and under, are placed on a list. Agape Ministry matches needy families with sponsors. The families provide sponsors with their children’s wish lists. Then in the days before Christmas, sponsors deliver presents directly to the children’s homes.But Williams said the need for more sponsors is growing as more families suffering from hardships are asking for help. The number of Christmas wish lists at Agape Ministry are rising as Christmas draws near.“I know Warren County is known for being so giving,” said Williams. “You just don’t want any kid going without.”If Agape Ministry ends up short on sponsors, it can help close the gap with toy drives currently held at several locations in Warren County, including Wal-Mart, Casey’s General Store, Orscheln’s, Wendy’s, Dollar General and the Coca Cola plant. Toys are generously pouring in from participating locations, Williams explained.Many people are buying new and unwrapped gifts for children of all ages, leaving them in Agape Ministry barrels. Agape Ministry staff and volunteers will be matching donated items with the children who don’t have sponsors. Remaining toys are held for another program, providing birthday gifts to children throughout the year.But to truly fulfill a child’s Christmas storybook dreams, Williams is asking for groups or individuals to become dedicated sponsors. In these final days before Christmas, sponsors can directly take on the holiday needs of their assigned family, which may also include fulfilling wishes for a holiday meal.“We still have families on waiting lists and we need more sponsors,” said Williams. “It’s going to make some child really light up when they were going to have next to nothing for Christmas.”MotivationsThinking about the people who have next to nothing is what motivates Dee Turner.In the frigid air outside of Wal-Mart, Dee didn’t mind revealing her age of 85 years. She said her life experiences taught her a lesson, inspiring her to brave the cold when others stayed home.“In 1947, they had an explosion in Texas City, Texas and my father and mother were involved in that,” Dee said. “And the Salvation Army was special. They came in and helped them and I supported Salvation Army ever since. That’s my favorite charity besides my church. They’ve always been wherever they’ve been needed.”If you want to donate your time as a volunteer bell ringer or if you’d like to sponsor a family through the Share-a-Christmas program, contact Agape Ministry of Warren County. Please call 636-456-4645 or go to www.agapemo.org.Agencies Partner to Help at the Holidays