CNN 2009-12-22

All right. So, then take a moment to tell me how this year compares with last year for you and the Salvation¹ Army.

Well, there's no question. We have our challenges in front of us. Last year was a record-setting year for our red kettle program. $130 million was donated by the American public. This year, we're realizing that the economy is having an impact. We're lagging behind about six percent as we look across the country, so there's a few days left. We have our work cut out for us. Because the need in reverse² to that, the need is extensive. Almost 100 percent increase in some communities.

Wow, wow. One hundred percent. And I know that you've tried to take some measures to make it easier for people to give too, because the fact of the matter is some people just don't hold cash, so you have done something with credit cards, right?

We're making it easier to give. If you don't have cash in your pocket, you can swipe a credit card and make whatever size contribution you want. What we're learning is that the average gift is approximately $15 per consumer that uses that option. And so we are feeling very good about it, but it's tough to get those credit cards swiped when inclement³ weather comes along, and we haven't figured out how to address those challenges.

All right. Understood, understood.

Major Grine, I want to get to you and your organization, which is Toys for Tots. Tell us a little bit if you could first about the program, just in case somebody has not heard of it.

Well, Toys for Tots is a Marine-run program. It's very simple. It's Marines collecting toys, books and other gifts locally to give to locally less fortunate children. It's very simple, and what we do, we do it during the Christmas holiday season every year.

1 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

2 reverse   

v.推翻，颠倒，反向；n.反面，逆境；adj.反向的

参考例句：

• His answer was just the reverse of what I expected.他的回答正好与我期望的相反。
• Please reverse the positions of two pictures.请把两张图片的位置倒转过来。

3 inclement   

adj.严酷的，严厉的，恶劣的

参考例句：

• The inclement weather brought forth a host of diseases.恶劣的天气引起了种种疾病。
• They kept on going,even through the inclement weather.即使天气恶劣，他们还是执意要去。