by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
Donating to the Salvation Army is now as easy as ordering a
Big Mac.
The Salvation Army opened a drop-off location at the old Blimpie sandwich shop across from UNM at 1916 Central Ave. S.E.
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The location lets people be charitable without leaving their vehicles, said Morgan Patterson, director of community relations and development.
"What I like about it is the convenience," he said. "The concept is they can do it (donate) through the drive-thru."
Patterson said people have visited the location and attempted to order food at the drive-thru.
"We thought maybe that might happen," he said.
Student Vanessa Ringwald said the drive-thru donation process is odd, but she is glad
it's there.
"It's going to be convenient," she said. "Hopefully, more people will want to donate."
Ringwald said that she has three bags of clothes in her vehicle that she wants to donate, but the bags have stayed in it for three months because she didn't know where to take them.
People can drop off clothes, money, nonperishable food and toys at the drive-thru.
Patterson said monetary donations go to programs that help people pay their bills. There is no donation too small, he said.
"Whatever somebody wants to give, they can give. It helps us to continue providing those services to the people who walk through our doors, not just in the holiday season but throughout the year," he said. "The impact on some families is it keeps them off
the street."
The drive-thru does not accept furniture or large appliances.
"We've gotten an old couch," Patterson said. "The sofa was left in the drive-thru area, so we had to bring it inside."
Student Nick Santistevan said the service is a good idea, but it won't make more people donate.
"It sounds like it'll make
giving easier," he said. "If you're not that nice, you won't go out of your way."
Santistevan said that if he had something to donate, he would rather use the drive-thru than go inside.
"I really don't like to deal with people," he said. "It's just - you do it, you feel good, and you
can go."
Ringwald said it is about time charities made donating easier.
"I guess the world's moving so fast even the Salvation Army has a drive-thru," she said.
Patterson said that more people donate during the holiday season, but the time of year shouldn't matter.
"It's just as important for people to donate in March and April as it is in December," he said. "The need is still there."
