Glen Eckerman rings a Salvation Army bell while his bullmastiff, Athaliah, sits at his feet at Blain’s Farm & Fleet in Janesville on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
Glen Eckerman rings a Salvation Army bell while his bullmastiff, Athaliah, sits at his feet at Blain's Farm & Fleet in Janesville on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
Glen Eckerman rings a Salvation Army bell while his bullmastiff, Athaliah, sits at his feet at Blain’s Farm & Fleet in Janesville on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
HANNAH POWELL/HANNAH.POWELL@APG-SW.COM
JANESVILLE — Glen Eckerman rings a Salvation Army kettle bell, sporting a friendly smile while his bullmastiff, Athaliah, sits at his feet.
Eckerman and his canine companion are who most locals expect to see at the entrance to Blain’s Farm & Fleet in Janesville during the holiday season.
Eckerman has been bringing Athaliah along as he volunteers to ring bells since he got her seven years ago.
He has rung at Walmart, Hobby Lobby and Sears when it was still open, but found Farm & Fleet, 2421 Humes Rd, to be the most rewarding spot.
“It’s not about how much I bring in here, it’s about the number of people that I can celebrate and bring smiles to, and here it is very rewarding,” he said.
Blain’s Farm & Fleet workers enjoy seeing Eckerman and Athaliah and ask when they’ll be there, said Lt. Jennifer Rysdyk, one of the commanding officers for the Rock County Salvation Army.
As customers walk in the doors, Eckerman can be heard joyfully yelling “Merry Christmas!” Passersby give Athaliah a smile or stop to pet her.
Rysdyk laughs as she shares that when she filled in for Eckerman one day, a coworker said her “Merry Christmas” didn’t sound as genuine as his.
By Christmas Eve, Eckerman will have volunteered 294 hours this holiday season — 5 days a week, for 10 hours per day.
“He’s been volunteering all day everyday with Athaliah. It’s so amazing to see him spread cheer and to see the friends who come alongside him and relieve him for breaks. It’s amazing to see that team work,” Rysdyk said.
Glen Eckerman rings a Salvation Army bell while his bullmastiff, Athaliah, sits at his feet at Blain's Farm & Fleet in Janesville on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
HANNAH POWELL/HANNAH.POWELL@APG-SW.COM
Eckerman says it’s all about teamwork.
“Everybody has different gifts and brings different things to the table, but when we work together –- just look at all we can do,” he said.
Bell ringers raise the funds to make Rock County Salvation Army programs possible, Rysdyk said.
“We absolutely need our ringers, and we need more of them,” she said, “They bring a whole different meaning to the season.”
All ringers in Janesville are volunteers, one of the few locations where that’s so.
Eckerman hopes more people give it a try.
“It’s so much better to help than to whine about what I think I don’t have or my different struggles,” he noted, “It’s not always easy to be here, but it’s the most rewarding to be able to say ‘Merry Christmas’ and bring a smile to someone’s face or see them interact with Athaliah.”
The Salvation Army has “tons” of bell ringers positions available this season, Rydysk said.
