For Manuel Simpson, retailer extraordinaire, Christmas time in Middleburg, Virginia is always glorious.

The beautiful village, decked out in its charming holiday finery. The delightful Christmas Parade with its prancing Corgie Corps, fire engines, sleighs of laughing children, pipers, llamas, the Hunt and Hounds leading the way. Santa is was always delighted to conclude the parade in his beautiful carriage preceded by dozens of wonderful floats and marchers who stepped merrily toward the holiday season.

But Manuel was sure something was missing. Where was the bell ringer? The classic Christmas sound that heralds the season of generosity. "Where was our bell ringer," Simpson mused. "Middleburg citizens would love to contribute to the Salvation Army to help others less fortunate. And with the ringing bell, Christmas in Middleburg would be complete."

Manuel's first Christmas memory was of the Salvation Army bell ringers in Winchester where he grew up. "I come from a family of shoppers," he reminisced, "and I loved to put change in as many pails as possible. That ringing bell was the herald of the season for me."

The intrepid community leader was determined that Middleburg would have a bell ringer too. So he called the Salvation Army and politely asked why no bell ringer came to Middleburg at Christmas. "Actually," they said, "we don't have as many paid bell ringers as we used to have, so we depend on volunteers. If you can organize volunteers, we'll get you a bell!"

That evening, Manuel met friends at The French Hound for drinks and dinner. Everyone was very excited about having a bell ringer, and by the end of the evening he had enough volunteers from diners at the restaurant to cover the first four days!

The first year Middleburg citizens put $7,000 in the bright red pail at the Safeway. The next year, $9,000 was contributed.

"And despite economic challenges of 2010, Middleburg's bell ringers collected $9,600. Over $20,000 in only three years, a clear sign of the generosity of our community," he said smiling. "But without the many wonderful people who volunteer to ring the Middleburg Salvation Army bell, we would have nothing. Every bell ringer here is a superb individual who really cares about others.

"We are very fortunate to live in such a generous and caring community. This year many business leaders volunteered to organize a day of bell ringers. That help is appreciated more than they could know."

For the first two years, the Leesburg Salvation Army Captain came to Middleburg every night to count, date and seal the pail. Now, Manuel picks up five pails from Leesburg and counts, seals and dates them to record each week of giving.

"I love doing this," he insisted. "Middleburg is my hometown. I want every single fabulous person here to have an opportunity to help others. By putting a little bit in each pail you pass, you make a big difference in someone's life."

"For me, that's what Christmas is all about."