Red kettle donations down 13% in Chicago

[marmar]

Red kettle donations down 13% in Chicago
Dec 13, 2010 06:55PM


The Salvation Army is reporting a 13 percent decline in donations to the organization’s iconic red kettles found throughout Chicago.

The kettles have been on streets and near shopping centers in the Chicago metropolitan area since Nov. 19, with the goal of raising $12 million to fund emergency and social services, a release from the Salvation Army said.

But donations are down by 13 percent, compared to this time last year, the release said.

Feeding the needy continues to be one of the primary uses for Red Kettle donation, and food requests in the Chicago area are experiencing a 200 to 400 percent increase, the release said.


http://www.suntimes.com/business/2827131-418/chicago-donations-percent-red-army.html

[SoCalNative]

1. Good

serves the homophobic assholes right.

[Luciferous]

3. Yep. I feel bad for the people who count on these services, but

at the same time, I do not agree with the Salvation Army's policies at all. We decided this year to donate our money to other organizations.

[AsahinaKimi]

18. Yes

Every time I see those bell ringers at the Safeway now, my first thought is, This organization hates Gays.. So of course I would never donate. Maybe had they had a different attitude about it, I would donate money.

[Luciferous]

2. I chose to donate to other organizations this year because of some of the Salvation Army's policies.

I don't know how well donations are in my area, but we have these Hope Bags you can buy at our local grocery store that they donate to the food pantry, and the last time I was shopping all of the bags had been bought... I usually buy a couple of bags each week, so I'll have to double up next time!

I do know that the mitten drive at my daughter's school didn't go very well. When I asked my daughter last week if they had many donations she told me that the box was empty, so I went to the Dollar Store and bought 20 pairs of gloves and 10 hats for her to take in. I wish I could do more, but my bank account is stretched a little thin this year.

[marmar]

4. Me too.

[Denninmi]

6. I feel the same way.

I won't donate to them anymore. First, I heard about their policy of discrimination against GLBT community. The icing on the cake was a local news report here in Detroit about how they (allegedly, it's still in the lawsuit phase) cost a Wayne State student her masters in social work while she was doing an student internship with them because she became pregnant and was unwed, so they chose to make her life hell, since she was a "sinner".

I gave to the local battered women's shelter instead.

[FirstLight]

5. I don'I think it is politically motivated at ALL

Maybe there's less donations because people have LESS money!!!??? duh!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

12. To determine that, one would need to see overall donations amounts. -nt

[Drale]

7. I really have not seen many of them this year

they are outside the mall, but thats the only place I can think of seeing them.

[City Lights]

8. I donate directly to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

And we donate any clothes/household items to Purple Heart Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, or Amvets.

[Monique1]

11. Not many here

The other day I heard one of the kettle people saying to a customer they no longer are allowed at many of the stores. I went there today there was some older gent in a white uniform just standing there. This is sad - I would drop money in their kettle to help those less fortunate. What is happening in our country - are the less fortunate that hated?

[glinda]

9. This year they tapped the Republican Party for my address (junk mail)

and sent me a letter with the word GOD right on the front of the envelope in large print. I called them and said take me off list. Then they stuck stickers on all of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune newspapers in our town asking for donations.
After all of that and their policies, I will not drop a penny in their bucket. Will donate elsewhere. After I check out the organization.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. I wouldn't give the SA dogshit. nt

[Monique1]

13. Sorry to hear you all feel that way

The SA has done some good things.

[Warren Stupidity]

14. religionist homophobic crapfest of applied pomposity.

I actually once had the misfortune of seeking help from those assholes. Ugh. On the creep scale right up there with scientology.

[David Zephyr]

15. They went to court to be able to fire LGBT Americans.

They get nothing from me. Ever.

Some holiday spirit these people have.

"Merry Christmas, we are firing you because of who you are. Now put money in our kettle."

[BlueIris]

16. I can't donate to homophobic organizations anymore. nt

[jwirr]

17. And if they are like my town the requests for help for Christmas boxes

and gifts for children are up. We had to limit the number we could take because there is not enough interest. The gender, age and wishes are put on a card and hung on Christmas trees in churches and stores for adoption. These families also get a food box. In the past we have had no problems fulfilling the needs of all the families but this year I think there are too many people hurting themselves. And the repugs in the congress think the rich need help. We are insane.

[NNN0LHI]

19. Tossed one of those gold presidential dollars into one and the bell ringers eyes got big as saucers

He though it was a Krugerrand. I said no it was just a buck. He looked disappointed.

Don

[Odin2005]

20. GOOD! Fuck those homophobic shit-stains!