Hanes mall salvation army kettle stolen, On Tuesday around 3pm, James Griffin was standing outside of Belk at the Hanes Mall ringing the Salvation Army bell and chatting up everyone who walked by. Thick, cold rain was pelting down when a mother with a stroller came up the handicapped ramp. As James has done time and time again, he walked the 15 feet to the door and opened it for the woman. When he turned back around… the kettle had been stolen.
The Salvation Army notified the WSPD and an investigation has begun centering around surveillance footage that is now being used to try to identify the thief. “This is my second Christmas in Winston-Salem and we had no problems like this last year.” Said Major James Allison of the SA of Winston-Salem. Major Allison went on to tell CCD that he has never heard of a theft like this in Winston-Salem or elsewhere.
“You didn’t steal it from me.” James Griffin said addressing the thief. “You stole this from the 24,000 kids who benefit from this bell ringing. This bell is a cry for help for over 11,000 families and that thief stole from them.”
Rather than acting angry or spiteful, James laughed about the thief. “Yesterday was one of our slowest days. They didn’t get much. It is just the idea of stealing the kettle that is so bad.”
Major Allison pointed out the same thing commenting “It will take more effort to get the kettle open than it could ever pay off.”
If the story has a “silver lining” it is that this reporter got to meet James Griffin. He is a man of extraordinary joy- gregarious and hungry to give back to the community that has been his home. “This is a family tradition.” James said. “My family has been doing this for 52 years. My mother, Mildred Griffin, did this before I did. It is our way of paying back.”
In his regular job, Griffin is an umpire for high school and college baseball. His brother, Wayne, is on the football coaching staff at North Forsyth and James is a major booster for the Mount Tabor football program.
On Wednesday morning, with snow beginning to blow in under the awning at Belk, James was back to being his usual friendly self in spite of what occurred Tuesday afternoon. “Good morning, ma’am.” He said to an elderly shopper as he held the door open for her. “making anything special for Thanksgiving?” James asked.
She smiled sweetly at him and answered, “Yams.”
James gave her a big smile right back and asked, “You gonna bring me some for Black Friday?” They both laughed even as the cold snow blew in on all of us.
In spite of the ugly reality of this theft it is important to remember that there are people all over this city like James Griffin who are doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. On Black Friday if you find yourself at Hanes Mall please stop by the front of Belk, drop a dollar in the kettle, and tell James Griffin that CCD said hello and we are thankful that there are people like him in Camel City.
The Salvation Army notified the WSPD and an investigation has begun centering around surveillance footage that is now being used to try to identify the thief. “This is my second Christmas in Winston-Salem and we had no problems like this last year.” Said Major James Allison of the SA of Winston-Salem. Major Allison went on to tell CCD that he has never heard of a theft like this in Winston-Salem or elsewhere.
“You didn’t steal it from me.” James Griffin said addressing the thief. “You stole this from the 24,000 kids who benefit from this bell ringing. This bell is a cry for help for over 11,000 families and that thief stole from them.”
Rather than acting angry or spiteful, James laughed about the thief. “Yesterday was one of our slowest days. They didn’t get much. It is just the idea of stealing the kettle that is so bad.”
Major Allison pointed out the same thing commenting “It will take more effort to get the kettle open than it could ever pay off.”
If the story has a “silver lining” it is that this reporter got to meet James Griffin. He is a man of extraordinary joy- gregarious and hungry to give back to the community that has been his home. “This is a family tradition.” James said. “My family has been doing this for 52 years. My mother, Mildred Griffin, did this before I did. It is our way of paying back.”
In his regular job, Griffin is an umpire for high school and college baseball. His brother, Wayne, is on the football coaching staff at North Forsyth and James is a major booster for the Mount Tabor football program.
On Wednesday morning, with snow beginning to blow in under the awning at Belk, James was back to being his usual friendly self in spite of what occurred Tuesday afternoon. “Good morning, ma’am.” He said to an elderly shopper as he held the door open for her. “making anything special for Thanksgiving?” James asked.
She smiled sweetly at him and answered, “Yams.”
James gave her a big smile right back and asked, “You gonna bring me some for Black Friday?” They both laughed even as the cold snow blew in on all of us.
In spite of the ugly reality of this theft it is important to remember that there are people all over this city like James Griffin who are doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. On Black Friday if you find yourself at Hanes Mall please stop by the front of Belk, drop a dollar in the kettle, and tell James Griffin that CCD said hello and we are thankful that there are people like him in Camel City.
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