(Thumbnail image: ZDNet)
“Wow, That’s wonderful, that’s the true testament of the holiday spirit, and I think that’s wonderful.”
This time of year, bell ringers with their red kettles are out in force trying to raise money for the Salvation Army. We bring you perspectives from MSNBC and local affiliates.
In some areas of the country, rough economic times are not keeping generous people at home. According to the FOX affiliate in Washington DC, in Annapolis, Maryland and Clarksville, Tennessee anonymous donors dropped valuable gold coins into the kettles.
“We’re talking about a rare coin worth 11 hundred dollars. Our area is not the only one to find a surprise donation. Rare coins worth hundreds of thousands of dollars have popped up in at least seven states... the Salvation Army says that they are seeing more kettle donations this year, but fewer larger gifts are coming in.”
The lack of larger gifts is a problem across the country. The ABC affiliate in Honolulu says that bell ringers on the islands are seeing fewer small donations as well.
“Thank you very much! In spite of her enthusiasm, and the work of many other volunteers and paid staff state wide, the Salvation Army has collected seven and half percent less from the red kettle campaign so far since the campaign began the week before thanksgiving. I know the economics very tight, but even though, Well, I think the people are giving less because of this economy.”
MSNBC reports that in North Carolina, the Salvation Army faced a larger set back than small donations.
“Police say two people broke into a red kettle warehouse, held two workers at gunpoint and then stole about four thousand dollars in cash. No one was hurt.”
The Spokane, Washington ABC affiliate, looked at one way the Salvation Army is trying to boost donations.
“It’s a familiar sight, holiday shoppers cramming cash into the little red kettles. This however is not a familiar sight, a credit card machine next to the famous Salvation Army red kettle. The Salvation Army is going high tech, high tech yeah. They’re now taking plastic.”
So what are you doing to give back during the holiday season?
Writer: Meg Burcke
Producer: Nathan Giannini
