Sometimes doing good for others is the key to feeling better about one’s own circumstances. Such is the case for an Ellsworth couple who dedicated the holiday season to making people smile.

The Salvation Army recognized Amy and James Okrutny last week for 50 hours of service during the Pierce County’s 2023 Red Kettle campaign. Ellsworth Volunteer Coordinator Rita Niesen presented the couple with a plaque at Nilssen’s Friday, Feb. 9, the location where they rang bells throughout November and December.

In all, volunteers in Ellsworth raised $15,192.62 during the 2023 campaign, surpassing Niesen’s $13,000 goal. She said that was, in large part, thanks to the Okrutnys’ tireless enthusiasm.

“Amy lost her mom to cancer shortly before we started ringing and it really brightened their holiday,” Niesen said.

Niesen admitted when she saw the Okrutnys had signed up originally for 39 hours, she was apprehensive. So was her boss at Salvation Army. If they didn’t fulfill those hours, she would have to. She didn’t know them, so she didn’t know what to expect. She needn’t have worried.

“It gave us a little bit of community and it seemed like a good opportunity,” Amy Okrutny said. “My mom died of colon cancer in September, so this helped a lot by keeping my mind off of it for Christmas. Christmas probably would have been pretty down in our house. It gave me something to focus on and to talk about. It brightened my family’s holiday.”

Amy Okrutny said the first time she spoke to Niesen over the phone, she reassured her that she and James would fulfill their hours. They threw themselves into ringing, most days from 3-6 p.m., wearing different festive outfits such as Santa and Mrs. Claus, Christmas gnomes, a unicorn, a pink bunny.

“The first day we were in regular, kind of dressy clothes,” Amy Okrutny said. “After that we just went with it.”

The Okrutnys handed out stuffed animals and candy canes from Salvation Army, then bought more toys and peppermints with their own money to give. Niesen said they went above and beyond the call of duty.

“I would show up at 6 p.m. to pick up the kettle and they were never ready to go home,” she said.

Amy and James both agree they enjoyed making people smile.

“When you’re more into it, they’re more into it. If I could make a crabby person smile, that made my day that much better,” Amy Okrutny said.

James Okrutny had rung bells for Salvation Army while living in La Grange, Ga. He was the one who signed them up for the 39 hours, he admitted with a laugh. He only missed one day of ringing with Amy due to a toothache.

Niesen said the Okrutnys enthusiasm is probably the biggest reason Pierce County surpassed its goal.

“That many hours, it’s rare to find people to ring that long,” Niesen said. “Mondays and Tuesdays are the slowest days at the store, but they still brought in a lot.”

Niesen and her volunteers are grateful to Nilssen’s, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery and Light Up the Fair for allowing them to ring bells at those locations. Amy Okrutny said Nilssen’s employees made them feel like part of the store family.

“The workers made it easier and it helped,” she said. “They would always come out and wave and say hi. We felt like part of the store.”

Store Manager Shawn Eggen said Nilssen’s wants to be supportive of community groups and enjoys giving them a platform.

“It’s nice to hear the bells ringing,” he said. “I knew when the bells were ringing there was money going in the kettle and it was for a good cause.”

Niesen said the money collected in the Pierce County red kettles stays in Pierce County.

“That money stays here,” she said. “It helps people who are in need of gas cards, food, basically anything such as rent. I was told one story of a family and the husband was the one who worked and he had run into some trouble and he couldn’t work, so they had no income and Salvation Army helped them out.”

The Okrutnys, who married last January, didn’t want people to feel bad if they didn’t put money into the kettle. They just wanted to bring holiday cheer; if people had money to donate, great. If not, a smile was enough.

“I love when people come in and say, I cleaned my car just for you. It was great,” Amy Okrutny said. “It was way more rewarding than we thought it would be.”

In all, bell ringers in Pierce County raised more than $15,000 in Ellsworth, $6,000 in River Falls (under the leadership of Volunteer Coordinator Barb Kuss) and $400 in Prescott. Niesen’s not sure what goal she’ll pull out of her hat for next year, but she knows who could help.

“They are on the top of my list to call,” she said smiling at the Okrutnys.