Ring a ling, hear them ring.
It's that time of year again.
Time for the Salvation Army bell ringers with the red kettles to be outside your favorite stores ringing their bells.
I was on a forum last night and I admit that I got very mad at one of the posters because the poster was absolutely giddy with glee that Target stores will no longer allow the SA to stand outside of their stores which is fine, but her reasons for being so giddy were downright pathetic.
No amount of explaining the rules of a charitable organization helped.
She was convinced that the SA were nothing but a bunch of crooks and thieves.
All because they failed to help her one year.
She asked for money for an electric bill and they didn't have it but offered gifts and toys for her kids.
They simply didn't have any funds allocated to the electric department at the time she went in.
If any of you have been on the receiving end of this kind of help or even worked for a charity that hands out help, you know that funds are divided amongst all the programs the charity does and when that money runs out for that fund, then that's it, no more money in that department until a donation comes in or what have you.
There were actually two women in this forum who couldn't see past their own "no funds" experiences to see the good that the SA does.
They called the SA bell ringers greedy and pushy and thieves.
Never in my life have I ever encountered a pushy, greedy bell ringer.
The problem with these posters was that everyone was a greedy thief because they didn't get help.
They didn't, couldn't grasp that because of people like them who are not tossing that pocket change into the kettles, that the funds for certain portions of the SAs help would not have funds.
At this time of year they focus on Christmas.
Toys for tots and food baskets for the needy, shelters for the homeless and then they put away funding for bills.
They also get some funding for bills from the government but mostly from regular folks like you who add a few dollars to their monthly electric bill and check off the box that says "help those in need".
This time of year, as you pass the red kettle and hear the ringing of the bell, toss in a few cents from your pocket.
It adds up and helps so many and if you ever need help your self, you might be able to get it because you and others like you tossed some change in a kettle.
Yes I do know about the house in California from a few years ago and it's so easy to explain these things but no one ever asks, they just assume.
The church owned a home, it was on their property but it was falling down and needed massive repairs etc.
The house was located in a very well to do neighborhood so in order to keep the property value of the house up to the communities standards, they spent $1 million dollars to do so. This million was considerably less than all the other houses on the street were worth but it improved the property value and the value of the home therefore increasing the SAs assets.
The SA owns homes for their officers/clergy to live in and also for people in need.
I remember one year as a kid, a family in our SA church lost their home to a massive house fire right before Christmas and the church let them move into that house for as long as they needed.
We all gave them gifts from under our trees and people donated clothes and household items etc etc.
Compared to many other charities out there like the United Way, the SA actually does give back to the communities in which they are located in spades with shelters, housing, food pantries, bill and rent paying, furniture, clothes. They helped so much during the hurricane season from hell here and I'm sure funds are very low because of all the help that gave out so please, when you see the kettles, toss in some change. Your .35 cents gets combined with everyone else and provides help to the needy all year long.
I know, I've been a bell ringer and someone in need.
Comments
Both the UW and SA are really good charities and they do so much good. Some people can't see past their own misery to see the larger picture. That's too bad they feel that way.
I've got to hand it to the bell ringers too - I always admire then for standing out there in the cold weather, and they always have a smile, and a "Happy Holidays" whether you donate or not.
Posted by: Karen | November 30, 2004 7:23 AM
Actually Karen, the UW is not so good. They claim to be and they do some good works but when you're down and out in dire need, don't call the UW. They will not help you and the UWs president, makes more money per year than they actually spend on charity. Plus, their "collecting" efforts from companies leaves something to be desired.
I worked for Publix and they would guilt you into donating $5 a week out of your paycheck to the UW and then throughout the year, they would let you " dress down" if you gave $20 to the UW. This practice happens at almost every major grocery chain in the south. It's like a little mafia of charity.
Posted by: kat | November 30, 2004 7:48 AM
Yes, UW was actually investigated by the IRS a few years ago and threatened with its 501(c)(3) status because too much of its funds were not going to the causes for which they claimed to collect. They've improved some over the intervening years, but only because they've been forced to do so.
What upsets me is the tremendous amount of greed you see in some people, especially this time of year. We've had a lot of different people and organizeations help our family over the years. We never, ever asked. They just did and we were grateful.
Greed, like the two posters you mention, sickens me.
-G
Posted by: Garrison Steelle | November 30, 2004 9:18 AM
Exactly. They were very greedy in my opinion. I mentioned that and they got very upset with me...lol
Posted by: kat | November 30, 2004 9:29 AM
I have never seen a pushy bell-ringer, either. The grocery chains here allow them, and I always make sure to give them something when I'm there. They are always nice and say "thank you".
I think that some of the pushier solicitors have ruined things for SA. Since Stop & Shop allows the bell-ringers, they have to allow everyone else, as well. On weekends, there is almost always some kids with cans asking for money for the pee-wee football team or some shit like that.
Most of them are okay, but some of them are so obnoxious! Once, when I walked past without making a donation, they yelled after me and called me a bitch and all.
The thing is, even if I wanted to donate to them (which I don't), I don't carry a lot of cash. Sometimes when I walk into a store, I have NO cash...I will use my debit card to shop and then get cash back. If there is someone I want to give to, I can give them something on the way out.
But when someone is calling me a bitch for not giving on the way in, they are sure as hell not getting anything from me on the way out. If this has happened to me, it has happened to others, people complained to the stores, and Target chose to ban everyone. It's a few people who ruin it for everyone else.
When the bell-ringers are in season, however, I make sure to carry a few singles and some change in my pocket, just so that I have something to give to them. So does Mike. And we give them something every time we see a bell-ringer at a store...so they get some good bucks from us each year. We figure it's the least we can do.
Don't even get me started about UW. In fact, I saw something today that I will be blogging about later on!
Posted by: Christine | November 30, 2004 4:07 PM
It is because of the few bad apples that SA has been taken away from so many stores. They do such good work. Can't wait to see your piece on UW. I hate them with a passion.
Posted by: kat | November 30, 2004 4:20 PM
Kat I am a lurker at the same site, thats how I got your blog addy. And have lurked here few times (nice blog you have). I did not see anyone act as you say they did. Yeah a bunch of people dissed the salvation army. Both for personal reasons. I seem to think that is perfectly acceptable. But maybe you don't because you used to belong to their group. One girl went to far saying they were all greedy and pushy but maybe that was her experiences with them. And the other explained that she was not mad at them for offering gifts, but thats not what she needed so they would of been of no use. And why are they bad because they don't like and support the SA but the others there that said they don't got no comment from you? And why does everyone have to like the SA or be a bad person. IF they do nothing to help then yeah I could see that, but they simply choose other charities then the SA.
Not everyone has the positive experience with every business that others do. And that in general brings their view on the whole company down. Maybe the SA does some good, but there are better places that do the same thing they do. I personally would donate time, monies and energy to the Red Cross before the SA.
As for the UW....blah they don't get a penny without me asking for change.
Posted by: faerie | December 1, 2004 1:24 AM
Faerie,
Read the whole thread again. I didn't say anything that they didn't say. They called them, greedy, pushy thieves.
I never said that they had to like the SA or even give to the SA but their reasons for hating were silly. Both posters on that forum were hating because of non-help and couldn't understand that it wasn't because the SA didn't want to help but because they had no funds.
It has nothing to do with me being a former member either. I have looked into many charities and out of most of them, this is the one that helps people 99% of the time.
The red cross won't pay your light bill or water, or rent, heck, they won't even give you a food basket. They help in disasters, not personal need. They both do great work but personal need charities like the SA seem to be able to do far more.
And, I never said that those two posters were bad. It's not like I wouldn't converse with them again in the debate forum or elsewhere. I said their reasons for hating the SA were silly and well, greedy and I don't think I have to explain why I think that again.
Posted by: kat | December 1, 2004 5:47 AM
I always give to the bell ringers. But usually they are downtown and I don't go downtown very often. We have no SA bell ringers in this neighbourhood. I gave a buck to a guy playing the cello in the subway two days ago -- but soon I will be Christmas shopping and that means going downtown and I will be sure have some money on hand to put in the SA kettle!
Posted by: Terry | December 1, 2004 5:56 AM
That's cool Terry. They just do too much good to let a few bad apples ruin it for everyone else.
Posted by: kat | December 1, 2004 6:25 AM
i need help for my son and i we are homless and need emergency help with housing
Posted by: julie lagarda | January 18, 2005 1:45 PM