Foo - Bell ringers: Have you dropped a coin on them?

Confess, have you dropped a coin in the can of any of these annoying bell ringers this Holiday Season?

I refuse to anymore.......

They used to ring now and then, but it seems their policy now is to ring incessantly, without stop anytime, ever while there. I refuse to donate to a group who tries to get your attention and donation by annoying you in to doing so.

I put in a five and took out 4.50. I did my part.

The Salvation Army needs your money. The people ringing the bells are volunteers from local churches, etc. who give their time to help others.

My grandfather was a fireman for the city of Dallas. The Salvation Army would come to the scene of fires and provide hot coffee, snacks, etc free of charge to the victims and the fire fighters.

If the Red Cross showed up, they charged the fire fighters for drinks or snacks.

Just saying.

If you are not going to give them a donation, at least give them a smile and a thank you.

And yes, I gvie, I seldom go past a bell ringer without giving. I also give my sons money to put in, and explain to them why they are doing it.

I also give my sons money to put in, and explain to them why they are doing it.To ensure the charity's CEO has a GREAT Christmas?

I dunno, this always comes to mind... http://youtube.com/watch?v=WQ_B62k9sQk

To ensure the charity's CEO has a GREAT Christmas?

remember this if you are ever the victim of a fire or disaster and these guys come to help. Refuse the help, I mean how could you accept help from an organization with a well paid CEO? Do you know of any charities that operate on a major scale without infrastructure? me neither.

Boys....

Life? couts? Room?

tempers ;)

Hey...now there's a first.

Jsharr gets all serious and doesn't get when *I* am being sarcastic. It's "Role Reversal Day" it seems. :D



remember this if you are ever the victim of a fire or disaster and these guys come to help. Refuse the help, I mean how could you accept help from an organization with a well paid CEO? Do you know of any charities that operate on a major scale without infrastructure? me neither.

Actually, you are one of the few people on here that I enjoy arguing with, and then you go and ruin it with humor. Damn you KT!:D

Actually, you are one of the few people on here that I enjoy arguing with, and then you go and ruin it with humor. Damn you KT!:D

Humor? What do you mean? I'm always seer-eeh-us.

Cat fight - rooooaaaaoooowwwwww.

Cat fight - rooooaaaaoooowwwwww.

Cat?

My avatar (and name) are a termite.

Where the hell do you see any cats?

Cat fight - rooooaaaaoooowwwwww.

note to self, check user profile for mailing address for substructure
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/a-minus-minus.png

I never see them...

thank the theoretical god.

I never see them...

thank the theoretical god.

You typically HEAR them LOOOOONG before you see them. :rolleyes::mad:

- i might contribute more if they didn't sell all the good used bikes to 'inside' buyers and leave the junkers in the showrooms...

(down here the *box-mart shopping lots are empty, while there's no parking whatsoever at Salvation Army stores - go figure)

I put in my annual donation, as the Salvation Army is a worthy cause, then ignore them for the rest of the year.

remember this if you are ever the victim of a fire or disaster and these guys come to help.

Isn't this why I save for myself for a rainy day????? People used to rely on themselves with minimal help from other people in extreme cases only.

Flood: Insurance
Fire: Insurance
Hurricane: Insurance
Unemployed: Insurance and savings

I'm all covered! Thanks for asking.

Lack of planning on your part does not make a priority on my part

Isn't this why I save for myself for a rainy day????? People used to rely on themselves with minimal help from other people in extreme cases only.

Flood: Insurance
Fire: Insurance
Hurricane: Insurance
Unemployed: Insurance and savings

I'm all covered! Thanks for asking.

Lack of planning on your part does not make a priority on my part

So, it is midnight, your house has been blown away in a tornado and you are freezing cold, standing in the rain. I guess Compass Bank is gonna open up and let you have some money to burn to warm up?

I did not say give all you own to charity. I pointed out that they respond to disaster scenes, large and small and give comfort and aid to those in need.

You go ahead and plan for how you will deal with the loss of your home and all you own and do not ask for any help if that unfortunate day ever comes.

You're Welcome.

Never contribute to them. There are many other worthy charities that don't discriminate.

I got turned off to the Salvation Army a few years ago when they got a huge donation of $50 million or something, and instead of putting it into disaster relief, or soup kitchens, decided to spend it on evangelizing and efforts to convert people to Christianity. Now, since they are a Christian organization, I suppose that's part of their mission, but I would rather give to an organization that is focused on helping people's immediate needs, not their alleged "spiritual needs" ... that they may or may not actually "need".

Also, phone charity solicitations are usually run by 3rd party for-profit groups that keep an average of 65 % of the money raised, and only pass on 35% to the actual charity.

So ..... Give as much as you can to charities, but do some homework first. Giving to small, local charities is often good because you can see your $ in action.

You typically HEAR them LOOOOONG before you see them. :rolleyes::mad:

Fair enough hahaha..we just don't get them in Whistler...busking, begging etc...not really allowed in a town filled with rich american and european tourists.

Some bell ringers cashed in big time, in York, PA. Some gold and diamonds were deposit in the kettles.

Also, phone charity solicitations are usually run by 3rd party for-profit groups that keep an average of 63 % of the money raised, and only pass on 34% to the actual charity.
Where does the other 3% go?

Some bell ringers cashed in big time, in York, PA. Some gold and diamonds were deposit in the kettles.

I remember last year some people scamming like they were Salvation Army people but were just cashing in themselves down in Florida.

Where does the other 3% go?

To the CEO of the person in the other thread.

I got turned off to the Salvation Army a few years ago when they got a huge donation of $50 million or something, and instead of putting it into disaster relief, or soup kitchens, decided to spend it on evangelizing and efforts to convert people to Christianity. Now, since they are a Christian organization, I suppose that's part of their mission, but I would rather give to an organization that is focused on helping people's immediate needs, not their alleged "spiritual needs" ... that they may or may not actually "need".

Also, phone charity solicitations are usually run by 3rd party for-profit groups that keep an average of 65 % of the money raised, and only pass on 35% to the actual charity.

So ..... Give as much as you can to charities, but do some homework first. Giving to small, local charities is often good because you can see your $ in action.


It looks like you are refering to the bequest in the will of Joan Kroc. If so you are a bit off on the numbers. It was 1.5-1.6 Billion. In any case reading up on that reminded me of something. That bequest had conditions. That is probably the case in the majority of gifts of real size. So your conclusion may be a bit unfair. They may simply have been following the conditions of the donation, even if it was something differetn. In fact that it is 'traceable' implys that the donation did in fact come with conditions. Otherwise one could not say just where those dollars went.

All in all I consider the Salvation Army a good part of a charitable social system. The one and only, heaven forbid. Many of their policies and beliefs rule them out for many who need help. But a valuable part of the puzzle yes.

It looks like you are refering to the bequest in the will of Joan Kroc. If so you are a bit off on the numbers. It was 1.5-1.6 Billion. In any case reading up on that reminded me of something. That bequest had conditions. That is probably the case in the majority of gifts of real size. So your conclusion may be a bit unfair. They may simply have been following the conditions of the donation, even if it was something differetn. In fact that it is 'traceable' implys that the donation did in fact come with conditions. Otherwise one could not say just where those dollars went.

All in all I consider the Salvation Army a good part of a charitable social system. The one and only, heaven forbid. Many of their policies and beliefs rule them out for many who need help. But a valuable part of the puzzle yes.

Yes, I was wrong ... my memory was a bit off. Here's an article about it.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01E0D61239F932A15752C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

I always thought the Red Cross were the ones who helped you when you have a fire? Also, aren't some of these bell ringers doing it for a mandated public service, i.e. got a DUI, etc.??

I always thought the Red Cross were the ones who helped you when you have a fire? Also, aren't some of these bell ringers doing it for a mandated public service, i.e. got a DUI, etc.??
Some of the bell ringers are volunteers, others are day laborers that are hired by the Salvation Army because there aren't enough volunteers. Never seen anyone doing mandated public service around here, but I bet it happens. I'm pretty active in one of the local service clubs and line up volunteers for them for one day at one site, and they're always pretty grateful for the help that they don't have to pay for.

The Salvation Army has helped my uncle through some rough times ... which was most of his adult life. Yes I contribute every year to this charity.

The Salvation Army has helped my uncle through some rough times ... which was most of his adult life. Yes I contribute every year to this charity.

+1. They helped my mom out many, many years ago. I also contribute every year. And I always take a moment to chat with the bell-ringer, whereas others are afraid to look 'em in the eye. Hell, it's damned cold outside, and I can see 'em shiverin', but still ringin' that bell.

I marked "no" in the poll because it asked about "this year," and I haven't encluntered one yet. I dont' drop something in the can every time, but I do every years several times. And when my son was little, I'd give a bock or five to put in the can - great experience for a tyke to feel like he's doing something nice for the world and to hear a perfect stranger thank him for his generosity. And like the Vegster, I say something to them, usually thanking them for what they're doing when they say "thank you" to me.

Compared to some of the panhyandlers in downtown SF, the mopst boistrous Salvation Army bell-ringer is a namby-pamby. They simply do not bother me.

I didn't drop any coin on the one guy last week. But I did drop the funk bomb on 'im. He seemed to appreciate it.

Haven't seen any yet!

No. I see it as opportunistic begging. If it is such a good thing, and is so financially beneficial... Why aren't they doing it year round?

- i might contribute more if they didn't sell all the good used bikes to 'inside' buyers and leave the junkers in the showrooms...

(down here the *box-mart shopping lots are empty, while there's no parking whatsoever at Salvation Army stores - go figure)

I realize a lot has to do with the store manager, or their boss, but some of the better bikes get taken to those online auction houses, so they can get more than $29.99 for them.

My wife works part time at a local Salvation Army store, and although the workers are paid, some of the workers are there because they're getting a second or third chance. The programs that the store's proceeds fund, are very oriented to extending a hand to people who are down and out, and providing them a chance to develop real-world job skills and the habit of holding a regular job. I don't know how much their CEO earns, but they do run a good rehabilitation program. Definitely worth contributing a little pocket change to.

<edit footnote> I say this and I'm of a different faith from theirs.

I purposely take a different route between home and work to avoid the bell ringer.