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Salvation Army sad but unfazed After robbery, people give more to the charity By SUSAN JAY James Pershall sang carols and rang his Salvation Army bell Thursday, undaunted by the armed robbery at the charity's Beatty Street office the night before. About 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, a man walked into the office, pulled out a small-caliber handgun and took off with four kettles. Only a few hundred dollars was stolen, said Capt. Bob Roome, a small amount considering that the kettle campaign usually raises about $80,000. The Army's 15 bell ringers, who have raised approximately $30,000 since the week after Thanksgiving, were out in force Thursday, and the charity added a security officer to the office for the rest of the holiday season. "The amount of money (stolen) isn't going to change anything or have a big effect," Roome said. "We're just thankful that no one was hurt, and the Lord is providing." Roome also said the Salvation Army has filed an insurance claim, which may help replace the loss. Police are still investigating the incident, Medford's eighth robbery in three weeks. Two weeks ago, someone posing as a Salvation Army representative tricked a bell ringer outside the Target store into handing over a full pot of donations worth about $300. Roome said the kettle donations fund the Army's homeless-shelter program and family service program. The service program buys food for holiday food baskets and daily food bags, and helps families buy gasoline and pay utility bills, through the winter months and longer. Part of the money also pays the bell ringers, who earn more money the longer they have been ringers. Roome has been with the charity for 15 years, and came to Medford from Coos Bay three years ago. This is the first time he has experienced an armed robbery. Bell ringers came to work Thursday a little angry and sad over the incident. "It's sickening to see someone steal from the poor," said Pershall, a bell ringer for 12 years. "I think it's sad that someone would deprive others of what they need," said Alice Stiles, a 79-year-old volunteer bell ringer at the South Gateway Fred Meyer. "I'll tell you one thing," she said, "there's been an outpouring of giving. People have been telling me how sorry they were that someone would do that to the Salvation Army." Pershall saw the same kind of concern. "People are really upset," he said. "I was afraid it would stop people from giving," Pershall added, but just the opposite was happening Thursday. "People are giving more because the money was taken." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA