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City of Plano Employees Volunteer to Ring in the Holidays For the past 10 years, City of Plano employees have rung in the holidays, literally, through the City’s Workplace CARES program. City employees have donated time and elbow grease to ring the Salvation Army’s kettle bell at the Collin Creek Mall. Each year Workplace CARES coordinates with the Plano Salvation Army’s local Kettle Coordinator to make sure the two JCPenney store entrances have bellringers the four Saturdays before Christmas.  City of Plano employees ring in two-hour shifts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. While the Salvation Army provides the kettle, bells and aprons, it is the City employees who provide the smiles and enthusiasm. “It is hard to express all the personal satisfaction I get from bellringing each year,” says City employee Paula Greer.  Paula rings the bell each year with her grandson who is in high school.  “This is a special, one-on-one time for me to share with my grandson.  I feel it is imperative that we pass on values such as this to our children and grandchildren and I could not imagine a more rewarding way!” While Paula rings the bell with her grandson, some employees team up with coworkers or other family members to ring the bell.  Married City employees Susan and Chester Helt have rung the bell as a couple since they married several years ago.  Parks and Recreation employee John Knight rings with his two sons each year.  Then there is Fire Department employee Calvin Cook who rings each year in character, dressed as his alter-ego Patches the Clown.  Fire Department employee Peggy Harrell rings with Sparky the Fire Dog. “Watching people walk from the parking lot toward the door and hear the bell ringing and then see that it is Sparky the Fire Dog who is actually wearing the apron and ringing the bell is really fun,” said Peggy.  “Most folks stop right there and dig out some money to put into the kettle.  It is tough to walk by Sparky and not smile and donate!” The City employees have collected several thousands of dollars during their shifts as bellringers, breaking their record each year. Sparky the Fire Dog and Patches the Clown will be ringing the Salvation Army bell at Collin Creek Mall this November.