CNN news 2009-12-22 加文本

2009-12-22 cnn

All right. So, then take a moment to tell me how this year compares with last year for you and the Salvation Army.

Well, there's no question. We have our challenges in front of us. Last year was a record-setting year for our red kettle program. $130 million was donated by the American public. This year, we're realizing that the economy is having an impact. We're lagging behind about six percent as we look across the country, so there's a few days left. We have our work cut out for us. Because the need in reverse to that, the need is extensive. Almost 100 percent increase in some communities.

 Wow, wow. One hundred percent. And I know that you've tried to take some measures to make it easier for people to give too, because the fact of the matter is some people just don't hold cash, so you have done something with credit cards, right?

We're making it easier to give. If you don't have cash in your pocket, you can swipe a credit card and make whatever size contribution you want. What we're learning is that the average gift is approximately $15 per consumer that uses that option. And so we are feeling very good about it, but it's tough to get those credit cards swiped when inclement weather comes along, and we haven't figured out how to address those challenges.

All right. Understood, understood.

Major Grine, I want to get to you and your organization, which is Toys for Tots. Tell us a little bit if you could first about the program, just in case somebody has not heard of it.

Well, Toys for Tots is a Marine-run program. It's very simple. It's Marines collecting toys, books and other gifts locally to give to locally less fortunate children. It's very simple, and what we do, we do it during the Christmas holiday season every year.