GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A heartfelt donation is the motivation behind one man’s passion for ringing bells this season.
Tom Blaney of Green Bay suffered a heart attack in 1992 and was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure.
After an 11 year wait, he finally got the call that saved his life.
“I didn’t believe it at first. I had just gotten home from the hospital on that Sunday and about 4:00 in the afternoon on a Monday morning they gave me the call,” said Blaney.
By that time, there was no time to waste. He needed that new heart fast and was headed to a hospital in Madison.
“By the time I got there, they said we’ve never seen anybody so calm and I said well, it’s not in my hands anymore and whatever happens will happen.”
From that moment on it’s been Blaney’s mission to give back and he does that by donating his time as a red kettle bell ringer around the city.
He volunteers for the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay at least 5 hours a day during the Christmas season as a way “pay it forward.”
Blaney never tires of giving warm wishes to people walking by and telling them “Go Pack Go, always.” And people never tire of seeing his smiling face and warm voice as they walk by.
“I do it to give people an opportunity to give back. I say hello and wish everybody a Merry Christmas and if they do want to give, they can give,” Blaney said. “I just want to make everyone leave here with a smile on their face.”
