40 years ago soldier got coffee/donuts kindness from Salvation Army

I donate to Salvation Army in many ways including the kettles. However, I don't donate to every single one I pass. I don't measure the good they do by some of the people who work for them. Some one here in Denver has donated to the kettles with Gold coins that are being appraised and sold for the good of the charity. I've helped people go to the Salvation Army who were in desperate need of food, and they never asked them what religion they were. I've even seen Salvation Army help elderly who have no place to live. It wouldn't matter to me whether they are religiously oriented or not, they do a lot of good. Just look at everything they did in hurricane Katrina. I've seen Red Cross be more difficult to get help from than I've seen Salvation Army. I try to give a lot of my discarded items, ones I no longer need to their Thrift Store, at least I know that the money they raise goes to a good cause. If by chance, and it's never happened to me, one of them wanted to talk to me about religion, I'd try to be tolerant even if I didn't agree with them. Kindness is something I repay everyday by returning a kind word and smile. I also collect canned food and give it to fire stations to donate to the poor who need help. There are just to many ways to return kindness that really does a lot for others.

that is an amazing story. it's really quite encouraging and heartening. I have not given to a kettle recently. although i reguarly contribute to the work of world vision. they do work with less developed countries and aim at helping the community develop sustainable industries. i guess a kindness i have repaid is to be nice to my relatives since i was a recipient of my older relatives' kindness when i was younger.

I have given to them occasionally, but to be honest I prefer non-religiously affiliated charities. Twice when I was younger Salvation Army people were rude to me over religious issues, so I don't go out of my way to give to them, though I have done so when I had extra cash and no plans for it. Most of my charitable giving goes directly to organizations that have helped me or have similar missions as the ones who helped me. Every paycheck I get has money taken out of it for a crisis line that also deals in victim support services and various types of counseling before I even get the paycheck. I've worked as a volunteer in a shelter that once got me off the street. Not only that, but when I see someone in need personally, I either help them or find them the proper help. The shelter I stayed at when I was younger is now run by a girl I brought there after finding her on the street.

In the small town that I used to live in, I was involved with our local Red Cross. We used to set up a kettle for the Christmas season donations. We used to get a lot of little kids donating small amounts of change. It was fun to try to explain to them that every bit helped a lot of people. I loved being a volunteer for the Red Cross. I used to have to use a local Food Pantry, when my daughter was small. I have since repaid them by donating alot of groceries. I am very thankful that they were there, when I needed them.

I usually put some change in them whenever I see them. Last week I ended up putting change in 4 different kettles in on shopping trip. Those kettles are everywhere, and I always try to at least put something in them.

To donate is good. This reminds me of a story about a man, apparently unknown, who drops a real gold coin in the salvation army bucket every year. ( http://coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071218/NEWS01/712180330/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02 )

if i had got such a kindness from anybody i will repay them alot more more than what they did for me