Hear those bells ringing? That might be because today's featured charity is The Salvation Army. They've been using bells to attract attention to passerbys for charitable giving ever since 16-year old volunteer Amelia Kunkle got the idea at a New York red kettle way back in 1900.
I didn't know this but the Salvation Army is not just a charity. It's a church. Formed as a Methodist place of worship in 1865. Originally started as the East London Christian Mission by William Booth and his wife Catherine. Booth changed the name to the Salvation Army in 1878 when one of his son's bristled at being called a member of the church's 'volunteer army'. The word 'salvation' replaced volunteer and Booth began to adopt a more militaristic approach to his church, dressing workers in uniform, creating a flag and appointing himself the Salvation Army's first general. They even have their own anthem and flag!
Perhaps the most well known charitable operation of the Salvation Army is its homeless shelters and 'soup lines' which have become as synonymous with the holidays as well as the Great Depression of the 1930s. They also provide addiction recovery services, financial assistance for rent utilities and transportation, and humanitarian aid worldwide. Last year, an estimated 27 million American men, women and children were helped by the Salvation Army.
If the ringing of a Salvation Army volunteer's bell brings back memories of your parents giving you a quarter when you were a kid to drop in the donation kettles, then perhaps think about making a much larger donation now as an adult. If so, you can donate here to the Salvation Army USA
For today's Advent present, I'm sharing with you a song that was actually inspired by the Salvation Army. 1950's Silver Bells was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. Livingston would hear the bells rung by those dressed in Santa Claus suits and Salvation Army uniforms and was inspired to write a holiday song that would gain fame the following year when it debuted in the Bob Hope feature The Lemon Drop Kid. Originally titled 'Tinkle Bells', the name was changed when one of the songwriter's brides pointed out that 'tinkle' was slang for urinating. Could you imagine what would have happened if the name was never changed??? It still might have become such a perennial holiday favorite. But school kids around the world who like to change lyrics to songs would have loved tinkering with it!
Here's the clip that introduced the song to the world...
Enjoy!
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