The other day – Veterans Day – I headed into the grocery store and was met at the door by not one but two worthy causes looking for a buck or two. That’s something new.
One was the VFW. It was Veterans Day, after all, and for a donation you get an artificial poppy. At one time, poppies evoked memories of World War I – specifically Flander’s Field – a story brilliantly told at Kansas City’s own World War One museum at Liberty Memorial. The Veterans of Foreign Wars has used the little silk flowers to raise millions over the years to help veterans.
The second was the Salvation Army – a red kettle and a volunteer ringing a bell. The Salvation Army does any number of things, including running a homeless shelter in Independence.
You might recall that its local food shelf had to briefly close a few weeks ago because it ran out of food and money. Many in the community, including service clubs such as the Independence Rotary and Lions, immediately stepped up and helped. The Salvation Army said at the time that kettle money this year would be crucial.
This helps illustrate the problem: First, the need for food assistance and other aid is year-round, but giving tends to be seasonal. Second, the economy is lousy, and that has inevitably affected groups that rely on donations. Demand for services goes up, but some donors feel strapped too.
You can help in a variety of ways.
First, you can throw a buck in the bucket.
Second, businesses step up in a variety of ways. Just to take this one example, these two groups had their volunteers at the Noland Road Hy-Vee. The Salvation Army will also have ringers at Independence Center and elsewhere during the holidays. (The Salvation Army also has an Angel Tree in the lower level Macy’s court; select an ornament tag with information about a child, buy a gift and bring it back to the tree.)
Third, you can bring other donations that help. Panera Bread, for example, is having a promotion today to help the Salvation Army.
Operation: Stock the Shelves is at all area stores, including those at 605 N.E. Coronado Drive in Blue Springs and 18800 E. U.S. 40 in Independence.
It’s from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring in a non-perishable food item, and get a cup of coffee or soft drink in return. Bring in 10, and you get a coupon for a serving of the company’s new Vermont white cheddar macaroni and cheese. The company is looking for canned vegetables, fruit, soup or meat; boxed meals such as Hamburger Helper; boxed stuffing, peanut butter; and hot or cold cereal. Nothing in a glass container, please.
Panera, based in Richmond Heights, Mo., is running this effort at its stores in Kansas City, St. Joseph, Wichita, Lawrence, Topeka and Manhattan, Kan.
There’s a fourth way to help, too, even if the money is really tight right now, as it is for many. Go ring a bell for an hour or two for the Salvation Army. It’s always needing volunteers.
