Where Are The Bells?

It usually starts around Thanksgiving. You go to any store or mall and see people ringing bells asking for donations for different charities. I usually give a little something on the way out, but this year I haven't seen them anywhere. I mentioned this on Facebook and a friend of mine said that she didn't see them in her state either, but instead cashiers in stores are asking for donations. I have had that happen to me but not recently. It is very awkward for both people and is not the way to go about it. If charities want/need money then they should keep up the tradition and ring a bell beside a kettle. There seems to be a growing trend (all year long) with charities complaining that donations are down yet many don't accept anything other than money (not food, clothes, etc) and even the ones that accept money don't want to make the effort to get it they want you to simply go on their website and give - which many people won't do. I am all for helping charities, but only the ones that don't discriminate on what they will accept and only those that seem to really care that you are giving up something to give to them.