Although the Salvation Army’s positional statements on one or more social issues have been controversial for a few years and may be picking up more momentum through electronic social networks, I am hearing such issues more locally than in the past.

So, there may be several influences at stake.

Then again, it seems that when a call goes out near the end of a campaign, people are reminded of the need and end up giving more.

You nailed it Gus.

It is possible that the “trickle down effect” is not working and the money is not tricking down to the average John and Jane Doe. Leaving businesses and corporations to step in with last minute donations?

Would be nice to find out where the last minute Sally Ann donations are coming from, however they are likely to be “anonymous”.

PG is a last minute town. I don’t understand the statement that they are making about the tree of lights campaign. If you look at the lights on the tree, it seems to me that it is well over 50% up the tree.
I will be making my donation on Friday.

Not to mention virtually every store and till you go through nowadays seems to be wanting your change for some charity or another. Maybe people are just getting tired of hands continually digging into your pocket. I donate to the ones I choose when I choose, but they are starting to get quite intrusive now.

Agreed, huh, it is tough. One time while going through Can. Tire I had to pass by three different charitable organizations doing fundraising drives… one at the entrance, one just inside the entrance, and one on the way out.

The Salvation Army always seems to meet its goal, but it is usually at the last minute. This is PG after all.

I wish there was a way to filter who actually needs these hampers. Several times I have overhead people in line talking to their friends about the extravagant gifts they are buying for themselves and when asked how they can afford that they just say they got a Christmas hamper so they don’t have to worry about anything. If you are in line at Costco buying a $3000 60″ tv, you probably shouldn’t be loudly talking into your iPhone about how you are getting a Christmas hamper and that you hope its better than last years. Same goes for the lady that was in line at Target telling her friend she “didn’t feel like grocery shopping this year so they ordered a hamper instead”.

The Salvation Army screens its hamper recipients. We qualify as our earnings are less than $12,000. But, my donation this year is to NOT apply as our basics are met despite the financial constraints. So, that’s one less hamper this year. No one gets a hamper that doesn’t need one.

Thanks for the info commoner, I will the words of someone who is/has been there every time!

I will *take the words of someone who is/has been there every time!

I would probably give, but I honestly haven’t had any cash on me when I’ve passed a kettle this year. Haven’t seen a kettle advertising that they have a wireless debit/credit machine either.

I feel a little guilty about it at the time, but then I soon forget. I think that’s really the problem with the kettle campaign, it gets those instant donations from people who otherwise wouldn’t think to give. I think that has to be a factor.