Sandy Thiede turns occasion into a Salvation Army fundraiser
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
If there’s one thing Sandy Thiede has in her life, it’s enough stuff.
“I don’t need any more things,” said Thiede, who celebrated her 69th birthday Wednesday on Dec. 12, 2012 – or 12-12-12.
While not quite technically a “golden birthday,” the date certainly has significance – something Thiede’s grandson noted and thought should be a special event this year.
And so it was – but not because of any gifts given or for Thiede exclusively. Rather, Thiede – a long-time bell ringer for Salvation Army – decided that she wanted to have a party of a different sort.
Spread through word of mouth among friends, family and the volunteer groups Sandy Thiede works with, she collected money for her birthday, all of which will be donated to Salvation Army. By Tuesday, she already had more than $110.
On the day of her birthday, Thiede expected to open her house to friends and family for food, fun – and a silent auction and raffle prizes.
The silent auction included a football autographed by members of the Green Bay Packers football team, donated by the team when Thiede explained what she was doing with the money. Other items included a free chiropractic visit and gift certificates.
“On a scale of one to 10, it’s probably a 20,” said her husband, Ken. “I’m proud of her.”
In her home, Thiede has a life’s worth of gifts and curious finds. Her 13-year-old Norwegian forest cat, Berta, keeps track of everything and everyone.
But even Berta was expected to get a taste of the good life Wednesday, when friends came into the home and celebrated her owner’s birthday in a very unique way – a way Sandy Thiede thought of herself.
“It won’t happen again for a hundred years,” said Sandy. “I really do get the best feeling from giving to others.
“When I ring bells, I notice every kind of group that has been labeled … they’re all the same,” she added. “They all give, they all smile. They restore my faith in mankind.”
Lately, that’s something Sandy has needed some reminders on.
“I see divisions in people,” she said. “That really bothers me. I really believe we’re all equal. We’re all children of God.”
Which is why she gets out and rings bells for Salvation Army. A retired teacher, Sandy recalls a family moving into the district where she taught – a family that was homeless and in need of immediate help.
“The Salvation Army just gave instant help,” she recalled.
She also listened to Bob Collins – a long-time WGN radio personality who championed the Salvation Army. When he died in a plane crash in 2000, Thiede said she was inspired to help the organization.
“I was going to ring bells in honor of him every year, and I have,” she said.
Now, she has a way to make an impact in a way Collins would likely have appreciated. She hoped to raise somewhere between $500-$1,000, though she said she would simply take what was given as well.
“I feel we should be helping each other more,” she said. “I feel you should do something, rather than complain about it.”
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