Cool! Which one are you, Jean? (just kidding!)

Hahahahaha socks! yeah, that's me second from the right...in the purple sweater

How fun! I hope they brought in lots of donations.

How fun!!!!!!!!!!!

I never pass a bell ringer without donating. I figure if they can stand out there for hours ringing a bell, it's the least I can do. Some days it gets a little expensive because I go to dozens of stores. Salvation Army is one of my favorite charities. Which reminds me, I must send them a check.

I usually put in the bucket too, but not much...just the spare change from my purse. It's a boring job (except in Jean's area).

I always donate.

My father served in World War II and said that no matter the place or the time - even in the middle of the night - that he and his fellow troops would arrive, that the Salvation Army was always there with hot coffee and something to eat, and he was always so grateful.

There's a heavy religious prosyletising component of their service delivery. They try to mask or de-emphacise that aspect of their operations on the collection side, lest they offend or turn off potential donors. They're not unlike some soup kitchens in urban centers that require the hungry to listen to a fire and brimstone sermon before getting a free meal.

I don't care for the SA. I funnel my donations of this type to organizations having a mission simply to help the needy without strings or ulterior motives.

In my area I make it a point to avoid shopping at their "thrift" stores. They even had the audicity to put signs up, outside the store, stating "SALVATION ARMY B-O-U-T-I-Q-U-E"....hello.....they're a damned thrift store for god's sake!

A bigger, better bang for my buck is donating and/or shopping at the hospital thrift store. It is run simply by tireless volunteer workers and I (and many others, rich and/or poor) reap the benefits of the donations every time by using some of the hospital services and equipment that is purchased with the money from these donations.

This post was edited by justlinda on Mon, Dec 22, 14 at 20:13

"they're a damned thrift store for god's sake! "

This is my nomination for the best double-meaning phrase of 2014.

The chuckle aside, I agree with justlinda that hospital auxiliary/volunteer groups are very worthy recipients. They provide services and capabilities paid for by their fundraising activities to everyone who comes their way, without conditions or questions asked.

I agree with justlinda. Our hospital thrift shop uses funds raised for many areas within the hospital. Something that saved my sanity while DH had a lengthy surgery several years ago was a set aside waiting room with flat screen TV. We donate to the store and shop there occasionally. I also crochet baby blankets for the maternity wing.