Salvation Army, Not Just A Religion, A Charity Worth Giving To

Last year during Christmas season I started to enter aforce those beliefs on others.The Salvation Army is a
store that I had shopped at regularly for years. Ireligious organization, they do have ministries, they do
stopped at the store entrance because I felt thathave members, and they do preach the gospel of
something was wrong. Then I realized that there wasChrist to people, however, as far as I know they do
no bell ringing and no Salvation Army volunteer with hisnot preach to people that do not want to hear them
or her red kettle. I went into the store and asked theand they never require people that they are helping to
manager if he knew why the Salvation Armyjoin them. When I was young, I knew a girl whose
volunteer was not outside. He stated that thefamily belonged to the Salvation Army. Not once did
company had gotten complaints from people whothey ever try to "convert" me, not once did they ever
were unhappy that a religious organization wastry to talk me into going to services with them and not
soliciting donations in front of the company's stores. Heonce did they ever try to do anything other that to be
stated that the company had decided that they wouldnice to me. At that time I was an Agnostic and they
no longer allow the Salvation Army to have a spaceknew this but they never tried to change my mind and
outside the stores. This way the company would notthey never judged me.According the Salvation Army,
offend people. I told the manager that they had just"83 cents of every dollar collected by the Army goes
offended me. I walked out and have never againdirectly to client service", this is one the highest
shopped at that store or at any of that company'spercentages of any non-profit in the world. Among the
other stores.Every year I know it's the Christmasservices that they provide are disaster relief services,
season when I see the Salvation Army volunteersday care centers, summer camps, holiday assistance,
ringing their bells and standing next to their red donationservices for the aging, AIDS education and residential
kettles or buckets. Every time I see one of those redservices, medical facilities, shelters for battered women
buckets I put $5, $10 or $20 in the bucket and thankand children, family and career counseling, vocational
the volunteer for being there and allowing me to maketraining, correction services, and substance abuse
the donation. I thank them because I believe that theyrehabilitation. More than 30 million people a year are
are doing me a favor by allowing me to help peopleaided in some form by services provided by The
through the Salvation Army. They are the ones thatSalvation Army.The Salvation Army is actively involved
have to stand for hours ringing their bell while all I havein fighting the international crime of human and sexual
to do is put money in the bucket. They don't get paidtrafficking. The battle is fought on two fronts: shaping
for doing this they just do it out of love for their fellowpublic policy in Washington, DC, as well as providing
humans. I not only donate at Christmas time, I alsobasic services and advocacy for victims. They run 120
send in anonymous donations (For my own ideologicaladult rehabilitation centers across the nation, these
reasons most of my donations to most entities arecenters focus solely on defeating substance abuse.
made anonymously.) at other times of the year andIndividuals with identifiable and treatable needs go to
when there are various disasters.I am not connected inthese centers for help when they no longer are able to
any way with the Salvation Army nor have I evercope with their addictions. They receive housing,
recieved aid from them. The Salvation Army is anourishing meals, and necessary medical care, and
christian religious organization and although I am athey engage in work therapy. The Salvation Army also
Christian I am a Catholic. Some people ask me why Ioperates 18 locations across the United States, which
give to the Salvation Army instead of the Catholicprovide a comprehensive treatment program for men
Church. I tell them that I do give to the Church, but Iand women struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.
also give to the Salvation Army. As far as I amClients are primarily homeless, with limited or no
concerned the Salvation Army is one of the finestaccess to other treatment or social service programs.
charities around. They try to help any and everyEducational assistance along with classes such as
person regardless of race, nationality, color, sexualrelapse prevention and anger management prepare
preference or religious beliefs. They have never triedgraduates for independence and meaningful
to convert anyone I know of and they never seem toemployment. Each year, thousands of older adults are
engage in any type of politicking. The only thing I haveserved by The Salvation Army through a myriad of
ever seen them do is help people. They have theirprograms.
beliefs but as far as I have seen they do not try to