A Penguin at the Kettle 

by Robert Mitchell

Donning his signature penguin costume, Mark Shapp is used to long, chilly shifts ringing the bell for The Salvation Army and jumping into icy lakes in Maine to raise money for charity.

But to those who know him, Shapp has the warmest of hearts for the causes he believes in and supports, including his 20 years as a Salvation Army bell ringer in Westbrook and Portland, Maine.

“The bell ringing truly helps people that are in need this time of the year, and I want to be a part of that effort,” Shapp, 36, said. “I love that The Salvation Army doesn’t just give people a handout, but they also help people kind of get on their feet and develop the skills that they need to lead a successful life.”

A native of Estonia who came to the United States in 1992 at age 4, Shapp has raised more than $175,000 since he started ringing the bell in 2005 for the former Westbrook Corps in Maine. Shapp, who keeps meticulous records, said his best year was 2021, during the COVID pandemic, when he raised $22,614.50.

“It adds up,” he said. “It’s incredible. People think, ‘Well, it doesn’t matter if I put a few pennies in’ or whatever, but it really adds up over time and can make a difference in people’s lives. I tell people, ‘No donation is too small.’ It’s fun to see the kids come over and they usually put in one coin at a time. It’s nice to see parents teach their kids from a young age to contribute.”

Breaking the ice

Shapp met The Salvation Army when he was 17 and working at Shaw’s Supermarket in Westbrook. He struck up a friendship with then-Captain Frank Nataluk, who would frequently ring the bell there as Shapp went out to retrieve shopping carts. Shapp knew nothing about The Salvation Army except that it was founded in London by William and Catherine Booth, a fact he had learned from his grandfather, Armin Shapp, a Lutheran pastor who came to the United States from Russia.

“I learned that The Salvation Army is not only a church, but they’re also an organization that does a lot of good in the community helping people, so I wanted to get involved and I started volunteering,” he said. “It just kept growing year after year, and I started putting in more hours.”

In 2008, Shapp started wearing a penguin costume for the polar dip into Sebago Lake to raise money for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. He raised more than $50,000 for the charity from 2006 to 2019.

“I would dress up in the penguin suit at the grocery store and sell raffle tickets and collect donations to raise money,” he said.

Shapp started wearing the penguin costume at the red kettle in 2012 over his long johns, coat, and other layers. Shapp said shoppers are now on the lookout every Christmas season for the “penguin bell ringer” at the Walmart in North Windham or at Cabela’s in Scarborough, Maine.

“Sometimes people give you kind of a weird look,” he said. “Sometimes they get upset because they think Santa Claus is supposed to be ringing the Salvation Army bell. They’ll say, ‘Why are you dressed as a penguin?’ Then I have to come up with some kind of story and say, ‘Well, Santa took the day off.’ I have fun with it.

“They’ve come to expect me every year. They use me almost as a landmark.”

Returning the favor

Shapp used to do 150 to 200 hours a year at the kettle, but he has had to cut back his time at the kettles because of work. He recently bought a home in Westbrook and works two jobs—as a bus driver for Greater Portland Metro and at Hannaford on Forest Avenue in Portland. Shapp is considered a “cultural ambassador” at Hannaford because he speaks Russian and Italian.

Shapp’s mother, Liliya, received help from The Salvation Army when the family arrived here from Estonia.

“My mom got toys for me from The Salvation Army when I was a child,” Shapp said. “I do feel like I’m giving back and that’s part of it for sure.

“I love hearing all the stories that people tell me about how The Salvation Army has helped them when they were kids and gave them toys to have a good Christmas or helped their parents when their house burned down and The Salvation Army gave them assistance,” he said. “Those stories kind of keep me going and motivated.”

Shapp believes people give more when they see him going all out with a costume and creating a festive atmosphere at the kettle. You might say the role suits him.

“I think they enjoy it, and they like the fact that I put in the effort to wear a costume,” he said. “I try to be friendly and engage with people and talk to them. I think it definitely helps. It certainly draws attention.”

Shoppers to the rescue

Shapp gets through the long and often bitterly cold shifts in Maine by consuming coffee and hot chocolate, often brought to him by appreciative consumers.

“Sometimes I get so many I can’t drink them all and I have to start giving them away to other people,” he said. “That’s awesome that people do that. They’re taking care of me and I’m taking care of other people at the same time and making sure I can get through my shift. I keep my eye on the target and remember why I’m out there. That keeps me motivated.”

Shapp, who regularly prays and reads his Bible, said he loves The Salvation Army and its mission to “meet human needs in (Jesus’) name without discrimination.” When Shapp travels around the world on vacation, he makes it a point to visit the local Salvation Army.

Closer to home, Shapp regularly attended the Portland Citadel Corps, but now his work schedule calls for him to drive a bus on Sunday. He would like to get back to church more, but he is still able to contribute.

“A lot of the people going to the corps ride the bus,” said Shapp, who has been a driver for 11 years.

“I love The Salvation Army because it’s an organization that doesn’t just talk the talk,” he said. “It’s a boots-on-the-ground Army and gets out in the community and makes the world a better place.”

More charity work

His work helping others doesn’t stop with The Salvation Army. For the last decade, Shapp has participated in the annual Trek Across Maine for the American Lung Association, a bicycle trip encompassing 60 miles a day for three days. He also is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Shapp has maintained a friendship with Nataluk, who is now stationed in Houlton, Maine. A motorcyclist, Shapp takes part every summer in the Ride for the Red Shield started by Nataluk.

Nataluk called Shapp “a friend of The Salvation Army” and marveled at his generous and adventurous spirit.

“He’s a nice guy,” Nataluk said. “He’s very giving and community minded. He likes to volunteer.”

Nataluk added that Shapp has also climbed Maine’s Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, for several years.

“He does some things that require some determination and some courage,” Nataluk said. “He’s an adventurer and all over the place. He’s like five different people. He’s an enigma.”

Shapp said he still enjoys raising money for various causes and has no plans to slow down anytime soon, especially his gig with The Salvation Army.

“I plan to continue ringing the bell for the rest of my life,” he said. “As long as there are people in need in the world, we must keep on keeping on.”