Although searching somewhat diligently, I have been unable to find a clip of the Salvation Army television spot that has played during the holiday season over the last couple of years. Many of you, I am sure, know what I am talking about. It is the commercial in which a Salvation Army bell ringer appears at scenes of disasters.
The bell ringer appears next to a homeless person. The bell ringer is in the midst of a fire. The bell ringer is on top of a flooded home.
While the spot is obviously meant to show the breadth of situations in which the Sal responds the commercial does leave one fascinating question unanswered: What did the bell ringer do to piss off her superiors? I mean, standing on top of a home in the middle of a flood? Ringing in Skid Row, where by the way, I don’t think a lot of change would be collected. Ditto for putting a Red Kettle inside a burned out structure.
I certainly hope that bell ringer has a better holiday season soon. Perhaps a nice spot outside a Wal-Mart is in that person’s future.