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Editor’s note: Anyone who has shopped in DiMino Tops in Lewiston lately has encountered the holiday cheer of Diamond Lawson. Last week, I dropped my change in her Salvation Army kettle. She gave me a "God Bless you" even though I hadn't sneezed. Then almost on cue, an elderly woman moving with a walker lost her balance transitioning to a cart and fell backward toward the rack of sweatshirts. We each caught an arm and the woman was uninjured. Diamond went back to her kettle, smiling. Mark Scheer wrote this piece for the Gazette last week after someone tipped him off. It’s shared here because it made it to Yahoo without a paywall.
By Mark Scheer
Niagara Gazette
Her name is Diamond, but this holiday season, the 35-year-old mother of two from Niagara Falls is shining like a holiday star in the Village of Lewiston.
Diamond, whose full name is Diamond Lawson, started ringing a bell while standing watch over a Salvation Army red kettle donation stand at Tops Friendly Markets in Lewiston on Nov. 3.
Her joyful soul, wide smile and willingness to sing a song of holiday cheer when the spirit moves her have made a big impression on passers-by, helping Lawson gain notoriety on social media.
On one Lewiston community Facebook group page, hundreds of people have liked posts and dozens have commented about how much they appreciate Diamond’s positive holiday vibe, with a couple of people describing it as a “bright light” and “daily reminder of how kindness spreads joy.”
The outpouring of support from the Lewiston community brought Lawson tears of joy.
“I started crying,” she said. “I said, ‘This is unreal.’ Everyone kept telling me, ‘You are famous. You are famous in Lewiston.’ I went on (Facebook) and I just told everybody thank you.”
Lawson, whose journey to becoming a celebrity bell ringer started with a need for a job before Christmas, credits her faith for pulling her through some recent tough times and putting her in a place where she can connect with others she knows may need boosts of their own.
Diamond is scheduled to continue to work at her job of helping raise money for the Niagara Falls Salvation Army at the Tops in Lewiston through Dec. 23.
She invites people to stop by, introduce themselves, share a chat and most especially a smile.
They are, of course, welcome to sing along if they are so inclined.
“I just really want people to know that they’ve done a lot for me as well. To know that I’m being known as part of the heart of Lewiston, that is just amazing,” Lawson said.
In addition to red kettle stands, cash donations can be made in person at the Niagara Falls Salvation Army, 7018 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls. Checks are also accepted by mail to The Niagara Falls Salvation Army, 7018 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, New York 14304. For more information about Salvation Army services, making a donation or becoming a volunteer, call 716-283-7697.
