Tea: Pu-Er Dante
Music: Band Aid, "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
Time: Night
Thanksgiving came on the earliest possible date this year, which means the Christmas shopping frenzy -- sorry, season -- is already in full swing.
Nothing wrong with gift giving, or receiving. This isn't a rant on materialism. But while you're out searching for that perfect somethingorother for that certain someone, please don't tune out the sound of bells -- and please put whatever you can into those famous red kettles.
The Salvation Army does a lot of good. in the United States and around the world. When I went to Greensburg, after the tornado there this past spring, Salvation Army volunteers were there, handing out sandwiches and bottled water. When floods submerged a big chunk of Osawatomie this summer, the Salvation Army fed and clothed people who had lost everything to the water. Bringing it closer to home, when an ice storm knocked out power at my house several years ago, my family and I had a warm place to sleep -- on cots set up in racquetball courts at the local community center -- thanks to the Salvation Army.
And that help goes where it's needed -- no matter what the recipients believe or don't believe.
Aid costs money, though. Lots of it. That's where you can help.
It's a long shopping season. That means plenty of chances to stop, check your pockets for change and drop something in. It all adds up.
Or if you'd rather point and click to give, here's your chance.
Not because someday, you could be the one needing help. Because it's the right thing to do.
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1 comment:
In the small town where I grew up, the Salvation Army was the ONLY agency, for a long time, that did anything for the homeless.
While it was admirable that they were helping, I also recall that the "price" for a meal was to sit through a Christian sermon and prayer service, which I find, sorry, offensive. Real charity is no-strings.
I do most of my shopping (for everything) online, so it really doesn't come up. If I come across a bell-ringer, I'm likely to give what's in my pocket, but I'm giving it for the person ringing the bell, NOT for the Salvation Army.
Luckily (and I mean that), there are many agencies in the year 2007 who help those living in the cold. Bless the ringing bell for reminding us of their need.
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