SANTA MARIA - Salvation Army holiday bell ringer Tim Hatmaker is proud to stand outside local places of business helping raise money for a worthwhile cause.
"I enjoy doing it and it gives something back to the community", Hatmaker says, "this money is used locally to help people."
Hatmaker plans to prove his enthusiasm by attempting to break the Salvation Army record of continuous bell ringing, currently at 60 hours straight.
"The hardest part will be just standing there and keeping awake", Hatmaker says, "that will be the hardest part."
Hatmaker is among nine Salvation Army bell ringers across the country that will attempt to break the record.
"Come December 11, at 10:00am, it will be 1:00pm eastern time, they'll all start ringing and go to the last man standing", says Lt. Paul Swain of the Santa Maria Valley Salvation Army.
Swain says there is a 120-year history of the red Salvation Army kettles and bell ringers.
"Its a big part of our budget for the whole year", Swain says, "this is our main fundraiser and just letting the community know that the Salvation Army is alive and well and ready to help all year long."
For Tim Hatmaker, breaking the record is secondary to what he's already trying to do with his personal life.
The Salvation Army has been quite a help to me", Hatmaker says, "I have a problem with alcoholism and because of the programs they have there , but because of Jesus Christ first, they are helping me", Hatmaker says, "I want to give back, so instead of being the town drunk, I want to be known as somebody who gave back."
The bell ringers and their iconic red kettles raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Salvation Army on the Central Coast and a majority of the donations go right back into the local community.
