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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Thursday, November 8, 2007 12:10 AM CST
Holiday bell ringing starts Friday with doughnut feast

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com

MATTOON — A drop in the kettle for the Salvation Army on Friday morning earns a free doughnut and a cup of Joe while the supply lasts.

And the free “breakfast” will be served by Doughnut Gals and Guys. It is a nostalgic way of ringing in the 2007 Bell Ringing Campaign for Coles and Cumberland counties, said Salvation Army Captain Heather Holman.

“We are making doughnuts from recipes used during World War I when Doughnut Gals served doughnuts and coffee to the soldiers at the war front. Of course, we don’t want people thinking these are doughnuts from World War I! We’re just using the old recipe from that time to make fresh doughnuts.”

The donations for doughnuts and cups of coffee will be welcomed from 6-11 a.m. Friday in front of the Salvation Army Building on Richmond Avenue between 13th and 14th streets. Donors can pull up to the curb, drop in a donation and then receive their goodies.

“We’re clearing the parking area to make it easy for people headed to work that morning. We will have volunteers handing out doughnuts and coffee to people in their vehicles. They don’t have to get out,” Holman explained.

Cream and sugar are available.

Salvation Army will be accepting donations long after Friday morning. The fundraiser known as the Red Kettle Campaign will continue to Dec. 24. Kettle stations will open Friday to raise money to help the needy in Coles and Cumberland counties. Many of the assistance programs sponsored throughout the year are bolstered by the bell-ringing donations.

Holman said there are still many slots open for bell ringers. People can inquire Friday morning or call 234-3915.

She said the doughnuts and coffee are a fun way of warming up the start of the campaign, which had opened in past years at Cross County Mall.

WMCI Radio will also have a remote broadcast during Friday’s event to remind people to drive by.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

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Yawn wrote on Nov 8, 2007 2:58 PM:

" Great. Another 6 weeks of beggars standing at the entrance of every store, leering at you as you walk in. Most of them look like meth addicts. "

61938 wrote on Nov 8, 2007 6:05 PM:

" Yes and this year there will be cops there too, thanks to the donuts. "

tammer65 wrote on Nov 8, 2007 7:59 PM:

" Yawn, glad to see that wonderful Christian spirit of yours shining through! How can you criticize people willing to stand for hours in freezing temperatures to help people in need? The Salvation Army is a blessing to so many underserved people in our community. While I don't have the money to put in the kettle every time I visit a store from now to 12/24, I try to set aside a few dollars to give each time I do my weekly shopping, and again when I go Christmas shopping. I think of it as a Christmas present to Jesus, something He would look upon far more favorably than the testimonials to greed found under so many trees on Christmas morning. "

Yawn wrote on Nov 8, 2007 10:28 PM:

" Yeah I wanna support some losers in their admiration of a pagan holiday. No thanks. They are annoying and irritating and nothing but beggars. "

Billie Brant wrote on Nov 10, 2007 6:05 PM:

" Just walk on by Yawn! No one's forcing you to be charitable. The money collected by The Salvation Army stays here. It's not like some of the charities who solicit funds per phone who pay solicting firms to do their work. Some of these charities get as little as 10% of the donations while the bulk of the money goes to the solicitor. Just be careful who you donate your money to. I prefer to donate locally with the exception of a couple of veterans organizations I donate to. If I donated to every charity that called me on the phone I wouldn't have enough money to take care of myself. Isn't caller ID wonderful! I don't answer any Toll Free numbers or any number that says "Unknown" unless I recognize it. I figure if they want to talk to me they can leave a voice mail. It sure eliminates a bunch of nuisance calls... as far as the Salvation Army goes,I try and drop a little in the bucket everytime I either walk into a store. It adds up . There are folks here that need help. That's what the money is for. "

Chad(USAF) wrote on Nov 10, 2007 7:34 PM:

" Wow. What an attitude. If you really feel that way, fine. Step aside, keep quiet and let others actually enjoy the holidays. Just because you are miserable doesn't mean you have to make everyone else that way. "