I feel that I must drop come coins in the bucket every time I pass one of those bell ringers. And I pass them a lot because I am unorganized and keep having to go back to the grocery store. I really resent this. And yet, if I walk by without dropping something in I feel guilty.
Am I normal?
I give through my church and to various other charities of my choice. I have nothing against the Salvation Army. But I feel that I have no choice but to give to them or feel like a selfish bitch.
Also, in the past few months in the Cleveland area, I will be at an intersection, not always the same intersection, and there will be a guy at each direction with a bucket collecting money. I’m sure if you actually roll down your window you can ask what it is for. I have no idea if this is approved by the city or what. I have no idea if it is on the up-and-up. But I do not want to roll down my window and drop money in the bucket of a stranger. If you know Cleveland, this is usually happening on Chester. But today I saw it at Lee Road near I-480. This really annoys me. So far I haven’t given any money to this group of men.
If I have the change while passing someone, I’ll drop it in every time but I don’t feel obligated to. I’ve even occasionally told them that I can’t or won’t give them anything due to not having any money or anything small enough at the moment.
It’s been years since I’ve shopped “offline” during the holidays, but back in the day I would always drop in a coin or two possibly a buck if I had no change.
I guess to just have a soft spot for folks asking me for money face-to-face.
I never give money to those people (Salvation Army or any other organization using that method). It really bugs me to see people standing around begging.
I’m not sure what bothers me about them. It could be that they create a situation where you have no clue (except in the case of the Salvation Army) whether the organization is reasonable. Or maybe they annoy me because I feel like they’re trying to guilt me out of some change - your reaction is what they’re aiming for LillithFair.
I particularly dislike organizations who send people out into intersections like you describe; it’s just plain dangerous to the person standing in the traffic. There are several established organizations who do that here in Columbus, but it seems like there must be better and safer ways to raise money.
I always try to smile at the person standing there (I don’t imagine it’s fun), but I don’t give. Other than the momentary twinge of guilt as I pass by them, I don’t feel badly about it. I contribute to causes that I’ve researched or am part of so that I know where the money is going and I don’t have an endless supply of money.
I almost never have any money that I don’t desperately need, especially at this time of year, so I never drop anything in. I am always embarassed by this. But I’m generally embarassed by my poverty. Someday I will be able to afford to be generous. But I’ve received the Community Outreach Christmas food basket too many times in the last ten years. I work 40 hours a week, make better than minimum wage, have health care, and still can’t support myself totally on my income. Now if my son would get a job…
I don’t like the Salvation Army and I don’t like beggars on the street, so I never give them anything. I donate a lot to charities that (IMHO) do much better work, using the time-tested method of sending them a check in the mail.
I think all and all the Salvation Army is a good charity. But I already donate weekly to my Church, which uses designated donations for the the needy in the locality. I see no reason to donate more. Anyway, if I wanted to donate more, I’d do it through my Church, because I know where my donation money is going or how it is being used.
Besides, why donate only around Christmas-time? I don’t celebrate Christmas: it’s stupid. Every day is Christmas if one thinks about it. (Same with Easter, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eye, New Year’s Day, one’s birthday, others’ birthdays, etc.)
I put change in the Salvation Army buckets sometimes. I don’t have a problem with the Salvation army bell ringers. They aren’t like beggars. They’re not in your face with their hands out, saying “can you spare some change? come on mister, gimme some money!”. They just stand there in the cold, ringing their bells. And when you put some money in, they say “Merry Christmas”, and if you don’t put in any money, they don’t say anything. So I don’t feel guilty if I don’t put in any money. I don’t feel pressured putting in money. But when I do put in some money, I feel good.
This year I probably won’t at all. I almost never carry cash or coins on me, and most of the time when I do have it on me it’s for a specific purpose. I think the Salvation Army is great, but right now I need my money more than they need it.
I’m partial to the small-scale bake sales sometimes held outside stores, I usually buy a cake or something. I think that’s a far better (and far less demeaning) way to raise money for a charity. Even if the bell-ringers aren’t poor, they would almost have to feel like beggars, standing next to the bucket like that. I know I would.
Defining what I meant by “better”
I almost always see people standing in line to buy the cakes, cookies, and whatnot at the bake sale tables, but I guarantee you’ll never see people standing in line to drop money in the bell-ringer’s bucket.
I usually drop a few dollars in when I pass. Since my shopping is done, I won’t be out at the mall much this season, so I won’t pass too often, but when I do, I’ll drop a fiver or so in.
Never. I don’t donate to political organizations dressed in the trappings of religion. If the SA needs to free up some money they can fire their lobbyists.
I don’t donate to SA because, like other posters, I don’t like what they do. My favorite place to shop has a SA bucket, a Streetwise vendor (homeless-sold newspaper) and a Gaia box (clothing donations sold to support Green Causes). I have to admit, I get a bit of glee out of dropping a big bag of donation clothes in the Gaia box, getting a Streetwise for a buck and walking right by the SA guy.
I almost always put something in the bucket when I pass. The past couple of years, money has been very tight, so it’s usually just a few coins (sometimes only pennies); in years when we’ve been more prosperous, it’s been paper money, ones, fives, a couple of times even a ten or a twenty. If there were a Streetwise newspaper available locally, I’d definitely buy that, too; and I seldom go through a McDonald’s drive through without putting something in for Ronald McDonald house. As for the people standing in the street with a bucket, if I know it’s a reputable cause, I’ll usually give them something, but if I’m not sure, I won’t.
The SA provides much needed help in my community. I support the SA year round with money/time donations, but I still try to put some green in the kettle whenever I can.
Unless I’m with the kids, I never drop coins in the SA bucket. If the boys ask for some change to donate, I make with the quarters because I can’t stifle their generosity.
Every single time I pass one (ours is without bells because people complained they were irritating (one of the three times I ever wishes I was prime minister of this country - boy would I change that stupid rule!).).
The Salvation Army will go anywhere and do anything for anyone who needs them. That’s my kind of help!!!
Although I send 'em a check every year, I also hope to make the volunteer ringer feel that he’s freezing his toes for a good reason. So, I drop in the occasional dollar.