So cold.

[Guest]

. . . .

 

[midwestyankee]

Good for you, SSS. The bell ringers were shivering around here today, too. We're looking at about 2 inches of cold windy snow in the last couple of hours and it was cold and windy all day as well.

Felt incredibly good to get in from my run, though.

 

[TE999]

You are a kind and generous soul, sarahh...congrats to you and the students for helping the less fortunate among us. The Salvation Army rawks. I always put money in the kettles and send them money as well.

 

[rgraham666]

You're such a damned good person, beautiful.

Massive Kudos for you and your kids.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

And not only did you do good things for the SA but the kids benefited from seeing how much benefit they get from being helpful, generous and charitable. Sarahh, you're not just beautiful on the outside, dear. Your soul is gorgeous, as well.

 

[jomar]

Well done!

There was a story in the local paper today or yesterday about all the crap the SA has to sort through. Tons of pocket lint, plus fuses, paper clips, keys, wrappers and assorted pocket crap that doesn't get filtered when people grab and give.

And apparently, SA is taking plastic now.

 

[Guest]

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[voluptuary_manque]

Gentlemen, you are sweet.

It is a good lesson for us to learn. All of us, really, because I think the people who donated were affected, too.

Isn't it a funny thing about Americans? When times get hardest, people get more generous, not less. We're the only country in the world who expect our billionaires to start giving it away when they're eye-ball deep in money . . . and they do! Nobody else on the entire frickin' planet behaves like that. So long as we stay that way, the Republic is safe.





No matter what the doom-sayers think!

 

[pleaz_me]

Gentlemen, you are sweet.

It is a good lesson for us to learn. All of us, really, because I think the people who donated were affected, too.

~Nods~ Even the situation I'm in, it's hard to pass by the guy who holds the door for you, rings the bell, and is still smiling through the wind and snow.

 

[Jack_Samuel]

hey round of applause for you SSS

that kinda of thing can really define you as a person ; )

 

[Boxlicker101]

I haven't seen the folks from Sally's yet but, when I do, I will dig deep. I got a lot of benefit from them when I needed it, and I believe in giving back.

 

[glynndah]

I always put money in the kettles, but even more importantly, my son, who's autistic, also puts money because "they do stuff for people with real problems".

 

[Boota]

People really have gotten more generous since the economy has tanked. I still have a day job with the Salvation Army, for the time being. I drive the store truck and do maintenance. We ran out of food completely in our food pantry about two months ago. One of the local papers did a story on it and the community took it upon themselves to restock us. I've been picking up huge donations from food drives every week since the story ran.

I'm thinking I should ask for a raise now, though. They ran a picture in one of the papers of me and my assistant unloading a truck and now we get calls every day from women asking for me, specifically, to come out and pick up their donations. They don't have to ask. I'm the only driver. But since they do I think maybe I should be cut in for a percentage. LOL.

In all honestly, if anyone has any bias toward any certain national charities, I can speak from personal experience, and even as an Atheist, that the Salvation Army puts their money where their mouth is. As in any large organziation things could go wrong, but you can trust them to use your donations for what they say it is for.

 

[Safe_Bet]

I always put money in the kettles, but even more importantly, my son, who's autistic, also puts money because "they do stuff for people with real problems".

Mmmmmm. Give him a hug for me, will ya?

 

[English Lady]

Lovely, that little tale made me smile. People are always pleasantly surprising me like this.

And Yay for Christmas Spirit!

 

[jeninflorida]

Can't imagine that type of weather....we give every time we leave publix...a little here and there. it helps I hope.

We rang bells for Salvation Army earlier tonight. It was 19 degrees F, blowing snow, wind gusts of up to 40 MPH, not sure of the wind chill but basically just cold as hell.

Jesus. Can barely type.

It was a tough group of students who hung on with me for the entire time. Too cold to play instruments, we sang and danced to CDs of holiday music, did Thriller again, did the dance from last year's show and tried to stay warm.

Handwarmers didn't do dick. Footwarmers, either.

Once finally home, I took the longest, hottest bath I could and still felt chilled. My face looks sunburnt, my fingertips sting, my toes and calves ache.

And I was well-prepared for the weather. It was just that cold.

Oh - the point? There was a point here.

Donations to Salvation Army.

Well, to my surprise, the store was hugely busy tonight, even with the cold. There were many people rushing in and rushing out. Hurry, hurry, hurry.

But - I lost count of the number of people who, after they left the store, backtracked just to put money in the kettle.

Despite the rotten weather tonight, the horrible economy, the stressful time of year, their crazy busy lives, these people found the money to give to complete strangers.

And they also managed smiles. We evoked smiles out of damn near everyone who went past our rowdy, crazy, freezing bunch of kids.

Sappy, yes?

Well, perhaps it's just the cold.

But I got my first real taste of holiday spirit tonight. And it tastes good.



(We're ringing bells again tomorrow.)

 

[Guest]

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[voluptuary_manque]

Awwww . . .

So cute!

 

[rengadeirishman]

it was actually like 60 degrees here yesterday, makes me wonder if the world is ending.

 

[Guest]

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[rgraham666]

*HUGS* Good for you.