Published Dec. 20, 2004, in the Kirksville Daily Express

Story by Matthew Webber

KIRKSVILLE - In the course of an interview, there arose such a clatter: ringing bells, clinking coins, lots of "thank you"s and "Merry Christmas"es.

It was a typical weekend night with the Bunch family of Downing.

The Bunches have become a fixture at Hastings during the holiday season, but not for their shopping.

For five years, Charlie and Tillie Bunch, sometimes with one of their daughters, have driven 40 minutes to ring bells at the store for the annual Salvation Army Tree of Lights campaign.

Every Friday and Saturday night, they collect money, give children candy and attempt to pay back the Salvation Army for helping them many years ago.

The family does not have much money, but it does have time, Charlie Bunch said.

"It's kind of our way of helping out," he said. "I figure we've been helped a lot, and this is our way of giving back some of what has been given to us."

The Salvation Army has helped members of the Bunch family on several past occasions, the family said. When Charlie Bunch's mother's house caught fire, the Salvation Army was quick to give her whatever she needed - twice.

"His mom had gotten burned completely out when they were kids," Tillie Bunch said. "Then, when we had first gotten married, his mom had gotten burned out. The only group that would come in right away was the Salvation Army."

When the Bunches themselves had a small fire, the Salvation Army again offered its assistance.

"Then we had one, not a real bad one, but we had a chimney fire, and they helped us replace a bunch of stuff," Tillie Bunch said. "This [bell ringing] is a way to give back what we've been given."

So, Saturday night, when the temperature dipped below freezing, the bundled-up Bunches were once again braving the drafts that blasted them whenever a door opened. Despite the frigid weather, they did not seem to mind.

"We enjoy doing it," Charlie Bunch said. "We meet a lot of nice people. And, like we said, it helps a lot of people out."

His daughter Jamie agreed.

"It's a fun experience for a kid," she said. "It's better to give than to receive."

Jamie Bunch came up with the idea five years ago from watching other bell ringers, and she thought it would be fun to try it herself. She convinced her family to come along, "and we've loved it ever since," she said.

For the Bunches, these weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas are more than mere charity work. They are also a chance to meet people and to bond as a family.

"You meet a lot of interesting people," Charlie Bunch said. "It's our way of helping the community out. We do it as a family. We always have."