dixiblog

SA

I’ve rescinded my boycott of Salvation Army/ For now. My giving to the Salvation Army–or not– has changed a lot over the years.

When I was a kid, we did NOT give money to other religious organizations. We were witnesses, and you didn’t contribute to other churches, period.

I grew up, I would give to them sometimes. Other times, I’d want nothing to do with an organization that smelled of any flavor of organized religion.

Or I’d give my kids money to donate, to help teach them about helpign others. Or maybe I’d think the idea of forcing recipients of assistance to listen to religous beliefs was wrong at that point. I was kinda sensitive on the issue of making your own decisions, as that right had cost me a lot in my own life. It just changed a lot.

Last no-Salvation-Army-donations binge I had, was a direct result of two things: my working in the social services field, and my personal experience of someone who frequented SA (and similar services).

I worked with the homeless. I saw people game the system, getting one handout after another, some poor socialworker-type bending over backwards to come up with options, transportation, ideas, food, care, whatever these people needed. And after the helper had left the room? Often, the recipients would trashtalk the very people that were doing backflips to help. Talk about sucking all the compassion out of a room!

i was also misfortunate enough to be get to know too much of someone who had lived about half her life in the system, and I didn’t want to help pay for that, especially since that assoication already cost me thousands of dollars and untold hours of tears and sleepless nights. Let’s just say it wasn’t a big selling point, knowing a little too much about some of the people I’d be helping.

But today, it didn’t seem to matter anymore. I saw a bellringer, and I smiled. He smiled back, and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. He meant it. I could feel it. You know how sometimes you can just feel someone genuininely and purely wishing you well? I did. And I decided to donate, and got my wallet out as I was getting a cart.

Robo Bellringer

And while I did, another 3 or 4 folks came up in rapid succession to make donations in front of me. Like a chain reaction. I thought, “Hey, this guy is doing pretty well today.”

I did my shopping. and saw the bellringer on my way out. I smiled again as he said goodbye, and wished him good luck with his bellringing.

“You started it all! With that smile,” he says. “Thanks.” Again, he meant it.

I thanked him back, and went off to load my groceries and head home.

photo credit: drp 
photo credit: treviño