I loved the holiday season in the Rochester of my youth.

In that era, you could shop in the downtown at a variety of stores –— after you drank your Coke at the Woolworth lunch counter, you could stroll through Dayton’s, Stevenson’s, Arnolds, Massey’s, JC Penney, and Montgomery Wards to window shop. All were located within a couple of blocks of each other.

At Christmastime, there was a huge tree that sat on the overhang of Dayton’s main entrance. You knew, then, when that beautiful tree was lit, that the holidays had arrived.

On that corner, seemingly every year of my school years, sat a small woman by the Salvation Army kettle. On her lap was an accordion and there she sat, playing Christmas hymns and singing in a light, sweet voice. Although petite and elderly, she was always smartly outfitted in a corps outfit, wearing a bonnet, a smart, neat bow anchored under her chin.

I never knew her name; I just knew she would be there. And she was, year after year. I don’t know if I thought even that much about her then, but I know I threw what change I could find into that kettle because she was there.

There is a bit of magic at the kettles, I think, that’s wrapped up in Christmas, and snow, and bells. That ringing you hear for the first time in the new holiday season; that quick dip into your pocket for some change or bills. The smiles you get from those who stand there — the sentinels of one of our most iconic Christmas traditions, reminding us that this season is about what you give, not what you get.

I hear the ranks are thinning at our kettles  —  and not just in Austin; I hear it is happening all over. I am not sure why.

Austin has shown its willingness to give over and over again; it almost seems selfish to say we need to stand up again. Our showing at Community Connect and multiple food drives and campaigns certainly proves that.

Can we stand up again? Ringing bells at the kettles isn’t hard. There are plentiful choices in shifts (only two hours) and locations. All you have to do is sign up and show up. I’ve seen students at kettles playing carols on violins (actually, playing instruments is another tradition at Salvation Army kettles, especially in its early years); I’ve seen singers; I’ve seen whole families show up, all outfitted in Santa hats.  I’ve seen choir ensembles. I’ve seen businesses who have adopted a whole season, with employees taking turns at a particular shift, every day.

I’ve seen friends and neighbors.

Perhaps some of us have turned away from the kettles because we have become too cynical, too busy, or just too unhappy.

But this is what I would say:

We are all the guardians of the kettles. They are about how we stand against want and hunger and dark times, in a season that illuminates the best of us. It is a tradition worth keeping.

And our hearts are better for it.

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The Red Kettle campaign starts Friday. If you can take a shift, please call Stacy at the Salvation Army, at 437-4566, or online at www.registertoring.com.

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Contact Daily Herald staff writer Deb Nicklay at deb.nicklay@austindailyherald.com