Where Are The Bellringers?

[jazz4cash]

Haven't seen ANY Salvation Army bellringers in my area. Zip, Zilch, Nada. Checked the SA website and they do have invitations for bellringer volunteers. I guess I'll have to donate to the website. Anybody else notice this?

 

[MichaelB]

I’ve seen (and heard ) some around here in South Fla and always put a couple of dollars in the bucket.

 

[braumeister]

Plenty of them around here. All the supermarkets have one in the entrance.

I like the Salvation Army and I send them a big donation every year. My father talked about how great they were when he was in Europe during WW II (compared to the Red Cross which he despised). I found the same thing to be true when I was in Vietnam. They are good people.

Every year someone around here puts a rare gold coin in one of their buckets that is worth many thousands of dollars. I'm sure they examine the daily haul carefully so they don't miss this annual gift. It always makes the papers.

 

[Spock]

short on volunteers around here.
local meals-on-wheels can't deliver Christmas meals due to lack of volunteers
our homeless shelter did our annual street banquet last Fri, way short of people to setup and serve.

 

[MRG]

Plenty here. [emoji1]

One thing that's lacking is blood donation. I need to learn more about regular donations. I don't want to drive 125 miles to go to a plasma pump.

 

[Red Badger]

short on volunteers around here.
local meals-on-wheels can't deliver Christmas meals due to lack of volunteers
our homeless shelter did our annual street banquet last Fri, way short of people to setup and serve.

Sorry to hear that.

Our community supports our little soup kitchen big time. There is a waiting list to volunteer. I'm a regular. It gives me great joy. We live in a fairly affluent (we-not so much) area north of Charlotte, but there is need. More than most folks comprehend.

A local grocery store has a kettle and a great, enthusiastic bell-ringer. I buy packs of $1 bills early and keep them in my car (usually only carry some large SHTF bills). Anytime I go in the store, I stuff some $1's in the kettle (I go almost every day). Again, there is always need. Probably always will be.

 

[Lsbcal]

I save my coins for SA donations. But this year they are woefully absent at the Safeway I visit. So I just gave the coins to the high school kids selling candy for their school activities.

Now I feel saintly.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I love the Salvation Army and we have bell ringers. Most military people hate the Red Cross.

 

[JDARNELL]

When I wife was in college she got a parking ticket. She had more time than money so she went to court. Her sentence was to man a Salvation Army kettle for the day. All the workers said what are you doing here. You aren’t like the other people we get from the courts.

 

[Red Badger]

I love the Salvation Army and we have bell ringers. Most military people hate the Red Cross.

Hate AER (Army Emergency Relief) as well.

Many years ago, I lived in a 24 unit apartment that burned down during a MA January night. I received help from SA and RC. AER denied me because I was single. Over the years, their loss, not mine. Until that incident, I was a payroll deduction contributor. Afterwards, never another dime.

 

[Teacher Terry]

RB, totally stupid that they didn’t help. I don’t see where your marital status is relevant. Homeless is still homeless.

 

[street]

Salvation Army is one of the top charities to donate too. We have them here and next year I plan on being a bellringer over the Holidays.

 

[mamadogmamacat]

Fewer bell ringers here. Local Kroger has one. Walmart does not and they usually do. So many people no longer carry cash, not even change, so it may not be all that lucrative for the SA anymore anyway. I give to the SA on my electric bill, $10 per month. have for years. Miss seeing the bell ringers though, sort of a sign of the season. So many chilly rainy days lately however, so it can't be easy for those that are still out there.

 

[HFWR]

Don’t worry, after Christmas they’ll be released unharmed...

 

[ER Eddie]

I wonder how it feels, to ring that bell all day. That sound would get on my nerves. Ding ding ding ding ding... I guess they get get used to it, after a couple hours.

 

[MRG]

I wonder how it feels, to ring that bell all day. That sound would get on my nerves. Ding ding ding ding ding... I guess they get get used to it, after a couple hours.

You ever spend a day on a boat? Rocking all day long back and forth. When you get off your still rocking. Think the bell would have the same effect.

 

[Alan]

We just walked back up from Market Street where the Salvation Army just held their annual Christmas Carol singing, around the town Christmas tree. About 200 turned out I reckon. Great fun. (It’s evening here)

 

[MichaelB]

Once again some anonymous donors dropped gold coins into the kettle. The Salvation Army reports one coin in Detroit and three in South Fla. That’s a real secret Santa.

 

[braumeister]

Quite a few of them this year. I also saw Louisville, NYC, and Fort Collins.

 

[jollystomper]

I have seen many of them in the Mid-Atlantic (VA/DC/MD) area, in many of the malls and Walmarts.