When I think about the Salvation Army guys ringing the bells in front of stores, they’re always willing to give a heart-to-heart conversation. They actually bear the winter cold to ask for petty cash with a smile on their face. – Zach Braff, American actor and filmmaker (1975-)
The Salvation Army is often credited with popularizing the doughnut in the United States. During World War 1, The Salvation Army served donuts-often cooked in battle helmets to the U.S. troops in the fields. – Glynis Eckert, Salvation Army Marketing Director, San Diego CA
It was in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Starkville. Being younger and a bit more energetic, I worked a side job as a retail display designer. Waiting for the greenlight at the intersection of Lampkin and Jackson streets I noticed an old building housing the Salvation Army Thrift Store, since demolished. It had large glass windows across the front. I instantly thought they’d be great to decorate. Sitting at the redlight and thinking about all the college students who would buy thrift was like sitting on a goldmine. I went inside and volunteered my services. They welcomed me. Then I asked, “Is it okay to take some of those jeans home and splash them with Clorox, rip them a bit and put them in those windows?” They sold out like hotcakes. The relationship continued so that I agreed to committees, particularly the Christmas Kettle drive.
Treasured memories include standing in front of the old Walmart ringing the bell and freezing. Across the parking lot the bank’s sign showed temperatures dropping by the minute. While trying to keep warm with hot coffee up came three guys looking altogether like NFL linebackers. The first one much to both our surprise dropped his money in my coffee. It splashed, I jumped, he apologized profusely, we both laughed. He offered more coffee; I declined in but five minutes later he was back with fresh coffee. Those guys were some big dudes.
Later it would be my turn to pick up the moneybag at the end of the day and deposit it in the downtown bank’s drop box. I had a driver and graciously the Police Department provided an escort. First time out the driver zipped through the yellow light leaving the Police officer stuck at the redlight. Arriving at the bank the officer pulled up to the driver, “If you’re going to have an escort you need to check your rearview mirror.”
Veterans would always stop and share the same story that the Salvation Army provided them with free coffee while other organizations sold them coffee. Then they would plop money in the red bucket. I also saw people park in handicap spaces, jump out and go shopping. That was starting to irritate me. Finally, a young man parked, jumped out and I snarly reported, “That’s handicap parking.” He smiled sweetly, retrieved a wheelchair, and helped his girlfriend out. She was an amputee.
There are many more stories, some sad, some happy, all redemptive and redeeming, none were about me. I was just an observer. Life can change on a dime more than you can imagine when you step out of your comfort zone.
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
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