So what do you do if you're an ex-president with some extra time on your hands during the holidays? One idea: become a Salvation Army bell ringer like former President Bush and Barbara did yesterday. George and Bar were kettleside outside Gallery Furniture to help increase donations — two of the Salvation Army's four U.S. regions reported last week that giving is down as much as 11 percent compared with last year. "We know we're down in some areas," Salvation Army spokeswoman Melissa Temme told the AP. "But we're hopeful we can get to where we were last year in this last week."
About a hundred people came by while the Bushes were there. Many reportedly shook hands and greeted the former first couple — and, of course, dropped money in the kettle. Barbara Bush said she's volunteered with the Salvation Army many times; George said he's done it before, but wishes he had done it more. "You never feel you do enough," George Bush said. "We enthusiastically support their charitable work." The Bushes did draw one big donation Monday: Gallery Furniture owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale dropped a check for $50,000 into the kettle.
If you haven't happened by a Salvation Army kettle this year — or, like Houstonist, if you haven't had cash on hand when you did — don't worry: You can donate online. And you don't have to give fifty grand, either.
- See video of the Bushes as bell ringers from KHOU
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I can't ever resist the ringing bell. I usually drop money in on my way into a store and then again on the way out. I'm also a sucker for the firemen when they're standing out on the street corners with their boots. :)