Free Republic

On Christmas Day, a Major with the Salvation Army taking his three children into the organization's community center in North Little Rock, was held up and shot to death (in what appears to be a botched robbery attempt). The Major and his children are white and the two perpetrators were black. Given what we know about how long it takes for racial wounds to heal, what's to say that these three young children (four, six, and eight) who witnessed the murder of their father become personally hostile to every black person they see, and who could really blame them?

Arkansas police are searching for two men who shot and killed a Salvation Army major Christmas Eve outside the organization’s community center in North Little Rock as his three young children looked on. Pulaski County Coroner Garland Camper said two men accosted Philip Wise and his children — ages, 4, 6 and 8 — about 4 p.m. Thursday. He says one man pulled a gun, demanded money and then shot Wise. Wise's wife, Cindy, also a major in the Salvation Army, was inside the center and called 911.

LITTLE ROCK — Salvation Army Maj. Phillip Wise had Christmas plans. All he had to do was drop off the Christmas Eve donations at the Salvation Army headquarters in North Little Rock, pick up his wife, Cindy, who also is a Salvation Army major and was in the building waiting on him, and head home, to West Virginia, for the holidays. His three young children — 4, 6 and 8 — were with him. Then the unthinkable happened. Wise was robbed at gunpoint and as his children watched. He was then shot and bled to death in the parking lot...

Salvation Army major shot dead in front of 3 children By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette A Salvation Army major was fatally shot in front of his three children Thursday afternoon as he walked into the the organization's community center in North Little Rock, authorities said. Around 4 p.m., two black men dressed in black approached Philip Wise, 40, of Maumelle outside the community center at 1505 W. 18th St., Pulaski County Coroner Garland Camper said. Wise’ children — ages 4, 6, and 8 — were walking with him when the men came up to them, police said. His wife, Cindy, also...

Christmas, a time to spend with dear ones. Each year we look forward to spending time with family and friends to celebrate Christmas, remember those who may not be as fortunate, and especially remember those service members who are away from home, protecting our home. So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us to you! Thank you for making Radio Vice Online and Sound Off Connecticut a part of your life this year. We’re not quite certain we deserve all of the attention, but I can tell you we are quite humbled by it.

The Salvation Army - Naughty or Nice? Phil Bronstein December 14, 2009 The Salvation Army, the country's biggest charity, is taking it full on the chin from a social media network mobilized against the organization's position on homosexuality and other social sins. Twitter, Facebook and gay Web sites are lit up with protest and calls for donor boycotts. The Army's official same-sex statement suggests it's unlikely those cheery volunteers ringing bells over red kettles will be donning gay apparel anytime soon. While homosexuals are not "blameworthy," the statement says, "Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex." The...

The halls aren't the only thing getting decked this holiday season. The Salvation Army, the country's biggest charity, is taking it full on the chin from a social media network mobilized against the organization's position on homosexuality and other social sins. Twitter, Facebook and gay Web sites are lit up with protest and calls for donor boycotts. The Army's official same-sex statement suggests it's unlikely those cheery volunteers ringing bells over red kettles will be donning gay apparel anytime soon. While homosexuals are not "blameworthy," ... "Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex." The Army is an...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Police in Charlotte said 13 Salvation Army donation kettles were stolen at gunpoint late Friday night. Police said two armed men covering their faces entered the business at 4300 Stuart Andrew Blvd. just after 10 p.m. Two employees were held at gunpoint while the property was taken, police said. Jim Price, of the Salvation Army, said the kettles held an estimated total of $4,000.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Salvation Army officials in Missouri said someone carried on an 18-year tradition by dropping a gold coin into one of the charity's donation kettles. Maj. Ben Stillwell of the Salvation Army said a Krugerrand South African gold coin wrapped in a U.S. dollar bill was dropped into a kettle at the Sam's Club in Cape Girardeau, marking the 18th straight year that a gold coin has been donated to a kettle in the city, the Southeast Missourian reported Friday. Stillwell said the coin was sold to a local dealer for $500, bringing the...

Two Houston charities that require proof of citizenship or legal residency before registering families for holiday toy drives said Tuesday their intentions have been misunderstood. Executive Assistant Fire Chief Rick Flanagan said people won't be turned away from a Dec. 23 giveaway even if they can't provide proof of their immigration status. “They ask,” Flanagan said of the Outreach Program Inc., which distributes toys collected by the Houston Fire Department. “If (people) don't have identification, they still get in. I wouldn't have the program if they didn't.” And the Salvation Army, which asks for a Social Security number when registering...

YORK, Pa. -- Salvation Army bell ringers in York have collected the first gold coin of this year's kettle campaign. [The South African gold krugerrand is valued at nearly $1,200.] The South African gold krugerrand is valued at nearly $1,200. The coin was dropped in a Salvation Army kettle on Friday outside a Kmart on Haines Road. The South African gold krugerrand is valued at nearly $1,200. It was wrapped in a $1 bill. "As soon as the staff person saw it in the kettle, they called me and called George. They were so excited. They wanted us to come...

MAUMEE, OHIO (WTOL) - Maumee police are searching for a real-life 'Grinch' after a man robbed a Salvation Army bell ringer of her donation kettle. It happened outside the Anderson's General Store in Maumee around 6:30 p.m. yesterday. Just before the man grabbed the kettle, police said he shouted that he hated the bell ringers and hated Christmas. The volunteer worker struggled with the man over the kettle, but he got away with the donations after pushing the worker. The man then placed the kettle and tripod base into a 1999 black Ford pick-up truck, which was reported stolen the...

I was watching Sunday ABC News and the Salvation Army was the big sponsor for the newscast. They showed a commercial that was very touching. The Salvation Army is the greatest organization ever created! It is truly doing God's work. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90cfMSqAj0o&feature=related

Washington, D.C (AHN) - Aside from Wall Street companies and other business enterprises, a rise in bankruptcy filings among nonprofit groups has been observed in the U.S. Included in those filing for Chapter 11 are charitable organizations. There is no data on the number of nonprofit groups that have filed for bankruptcy, although experts said Chapter 11 filings are becoming more common as the non-profits are under pressure from donors to run like a business enterprise. The charity Glass Youth and Family Services in Los Angeles filed for bankruptcy Tuesday as the organization grappled with dipping state reimbursements, spiraling costs...

JOPLIN, Mo. (Dec. 22) - An anonymous donor has come through again for the Salvation Army, dropping five cashier's checks for $10,000 each into kettles at the city's two Wal-Mart stores. It's the fifth straight year someone has given $50,000 to the Salvation Army's annual holiday fundraiser without taking credit for the generous gesture. And while Capt. Jason Poff says he doesn't budget for the money in advance, but he admits that it's something he does hope for each year.

Salem - During the Christmas season, their red kettles are a standard outside the entrances of many retail stores, but after the holidays are over, the Salvation Army’s mission does not stop. They continue to help those in need, especially during these economically tight times. Through their Emergency Assistance and Family Services Bureau, the Salvation Army helps families pay for rent, utilities and food. They get funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United Way and other private donations, as well as group efforts with Project Bread and other foundations. When the situation calls for it, the Salvation Army...

BREA - The man who prompted the U.S. Postal Service to shoo away Salvation Army bell ringers says he just wants the law obeyed. Postal Service regulations prohibit any organization from soliciting on its properties. But Salvation Army bell ringers had been allowed to become a mainstay in front of the Brea post office during the holidays for 25-plus years. On Nov. 24, when Sean Thomas saw the iconic bell ringers at the Birch Street post office – staffed by employees of the Evangelical Christian Credit Union – he decided to speak up. The Salvation Army is a Christian organization....

Been doing some shopping the past few weeks, and there, in front of several large local stores, are what were Salvation Army bell-ringers with their pots to catch donations from shoppers. Except... what are they? Gone are the Salvation Army uniforms. Gone is any mention of Christmas. Instead, what we have are volunteers dresed in civies standing in front of the old "Salvation Army Please Give this Christmas" signs that have had all mention of Christmas and the SA deleted. Plastic stickers cover the evil "Christmas" and "Salvation Army" words so the signs read, "Please give for the Winter Holiday!"...

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- For the third year in a row, a gold coin worth about $1,000 has shown up in a Salvation Army kettle in Lee County. The Liberty Eagle coin was left Tuesday with a message on the case: "In Memory of Mimi." Salvation Army Maj. Art Penhale said the anonymous donation has become a tradition. He said the money will help 3,200 families. The Salvation Army needs to bring in $16,900 a day to reach its goal, but is averaging $13,000. Clayton Taylor is the owner of All American Coin in Fort Myers. He said the Liberty...

For 130 years they have been part of Christmas, filling the air in towns across the land with music and carols. But one thing is missing from the repertoire of Salvation Army bands this year - the percussion of rattling tins. Members have been forbidden to shake their charity tins - even if it's done in time to the music - in case it harasses or intimidates people. One said she had been told it might also offend other religions. Tin man: Salvation Army collectors have been told not to rattle their tins as it could be construed as religious...