Charity Begins At _______

I've been going thru "stuff" lately, deciding what is and isn't going on this move with us. Deciding what to give away, what to donate, and what goes to the dump. The donation bags and boxes I'd been cramming into my Subaru each day had snuck up on me to the point that when I came out of the grocery store I was struck with the horror of where was I going to put my groceries for the drive home?

So yesterday I knew I had to empty the car. I called the Salvation Army in the next town over. The lady said they are taking items and to come to the door in the back alley. I drove the 20 miles over and did as was told. When I got out, I noticed a lot of items spilling out of said doorway into the alley. A man tripped his way over said items from inside the back room and met me at the back door. He politely informed me that due to a huge truck that had dumped all of these things on them over the 4th of July, they could only take about 4 of my things.

"Oh, the lady on the phone didn't tell me that." I told him, disappointed.

He apologised for her, but repeated the rule. I commenced to unload 4 things I really didn't want to haul any longer, but he said he didn't think they could use those items.

"You can't use a new, working toaster?" I asked.

"I really don't think so ma'am." he replied.

"But you're the Salvation Army," I responded. "Don't you all give things like this to flood victims or the poor or others in need?"

"Yes ma'am. Ok then." He took the toaster and a box of my old pots and pans that I had discarded after we put in our new kitchen and I'd treated myself to a new set. I was quite ashamed of them, but he seemed to fancy them above the toaster. After a little more perusing, he took a big box of good clothing. He suggested I try the Salvation Army in another town 25 minutes from there to donate the rest. He gave me directions and I headed that way.

Upon arrival in the next town, I found the grocery store he spoke of and turned into the near empty shopping center. The grocer was on one end as he stated, and a marketing company sat unconnected on the far side of the parking lot. There was some sort of "self-help" ministry on the other end of the grocery lot with a sign in the window that said "Pastor On Duty." A very young, nervous looking couple was waiting outside with an older couple. They were all dressed up in their shabby Sunday best, and the young girl was carrying a wildflower bouquet. The older woman looked sad and apathetic and her husband looked uptight and like he would rather be off skinning a squirrel or gutting a fish at that moment. I imagined it could be a shotgun wedding and laughed aloud as I drove by. I circled the place a couple of times while my imaginary wedding party stared at me with that "all dressed up and nowhere to go" look on their faces. Still, I couldn't for the life of me find the Salvation Army. After 15 minutes I gave up and drove home.

I found the number and called but it was disconnected. I called another local S.A. number and the friendly fellow who answered told me they were indeed taking item donations.

"No ma'am, we're not restricted. Just bring what you have and we'll gladly take it."

"Wonderful! Now where are you located?" I asked.

He gave me the same directions as the other guy!

"Wait a minute," I interrupted, "I was over there and couldn't find you. I found the grocer, the "church," but...

"Yes ma'am, we're right between the two. Our door isn't marked, but we have a small sign in the little window. Just look real hard. We're open 'till 5 pm and you can bring your things in 'till then."

I looked at the clock. 3:25. I had time if I pee'd and left now. "Ok, I'm on my way. Thanks!"

"Thank you and God Bless, ma'am!" He cheerily replied.

At 3:55 I pulled back into the parking lot and finally found the place. I guess I'd missed my little window of opportunity the first time due to the Coke truck pulled along in front of it unloading for the grocery store. The little wedding party was gone, I surmised back to Ma and Pa's farm or whereever young couples go on shotgun honeymoons these days. Dollywood maybe?

I found a grocery cart nearby and unloaded the goodies from the car. It was a bumpy ride across the lot to the store. Some of the items were breakable and others were just not handling the buggy ride well. I should have used 2 carts but I was tired and feeling lazy. People were "blessing" me along the way for the nice things I was taking in, but no one would bless me with any help. I was pushing said cart slowly with one hand, carrying bags in the other, and waiting for drivers racing by who would have soon hit me than give me, the pedestrian, the right of way!

I got up to the door and wouldn't you know it-- a small sign read: "All Donations Must Be Brought In Back Door. No Exceptions!"

"Well SHIT!" I exclaimed loudly. And yes I did too! (Say it, I mean) It was like 86* and I just couldn't see balancing that cart back to the car, unloading everything back in, and driving around back somewhere to another invisible door. I walked in.

"Excuse me," I smiled at the clerk getting ready to check out the only customer in the place. "I have a cart here of items I'd like to donate and.."

"Sorry, I just locked the back door!" She fairly snapped. A young boy who worked there made his way up front and stood there staring at me.

I looked at my watch. 4:10. "Well I was told you take them 'till 5:00, it's only 4:10."

The clerk turned and glared at me. "Well I don't know who told you that, but we lock the back door at 4:00." She turned back to her customer.

"The man at the S.A. main office told me that." I replied, biting my tongue.

She turned around again. "Well I'm sorry, but they don't know how we run things down here." She turned away again.

"Ok, look, I'm sorry if he told me wrong, but I was just doing what I was instructed to do. I've now been to 2 different Salvation Armies today trying to make donations. The first lady told me to come on over but didn't explain they couldn't take but a couple of things. Then they sent me over here. I drove all the way over here earlier and couldn't even find you since there's no visible signs you even exist! Then I drove back home and called your main office. The fellow there told me to come back here, that you'd be here "till 5:00 taking donations and so I drove all the way back. Now I've been at this ALL week getting stuff together, and ALL day trying to donate it. I thought the S.A. was a charitable organization, but today it feels like I'M the only one being charitable here!"

As I spoke, I was conscious of that problem I have with my voice getting louder and higher pitched when my last nerve has been abused to the point of no return. I turned to leave.

She softly said, "Ok ma'am, go ahead and bring your buggy in the front door and leave it there. I'll go ahead and take it in this way."

I dropped the big bag with the comforter and pillows I still had in my hand in front of the door to hold it open while I struggled to get the cart across the threshold. The young male employee who had been staring at me finally let the gas out of his brain and came over and helped me.

Now I didn't expect to come away feeling all warm and fuzzy inside for giving those things away. But granted, I certainly didn't expect to feel so offended either. I mean, isn't charity also about the way we practice treating each other? Up until yesterday, I can't recall having so much trouble trying to extend a little charity before in my life!

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