Freyja33
143755
4831
185
You should know
Dec 1, 2019 5:48 PM
Freyja33
143755
4831
185
poorwhitetrash
It’s the fucking bell ruining that I loathe so much.
VonLiptonSchtein
While this may be true for some, I doubt it is for all divisions. I'd look into your local one to be sure
EvrGreen7
We have awesome ones around IL
Ninjadude231
Upvoting cause more people need to be aware of this.
toxcrusadr
We have no proof that these stories are organization policy or just rogue managers.
PressMyButtonsBaby
Sadly when super corrupt people get effectively called out, they see the solution in merely changing their name to something else.
fantabuloustimewaster
A real source would be nice.
dave262
That’s not how it works around here
fantabuloustimewaster
It could be. We have the technology.
4DigitIQ
I'll play devil's advocate ... are there any credible sources here? I mean 2 stories should not win over the entire internet.
StrongHammer42
Interesting word choice lol.
AvidLebon
There's many if you google, including the death of Jennifer Gale who was refused shelter for being trans.
Dyslexicbirch
There was another story about a SA womens shelter kicking people out and treating them like sluts a awhile back
EvrGreen7
Yes there are 8,000 locations in the U.S. alone. 8,000 of anything having humans is going to have some bad ones.
ArithmeticFascist
All you need to know is that their primary objective is converting people to Christianity. Second is doing away with women's and gay rights.
ForgotMyOtherAcct
On its own, why is wanting to convert people bad? It's a free country. That shouldn't be the primary reason you hate a group.
sololander
I go every night to Salvation Army compound next to my house coz they rented out a plot to the kebab guy.
busybusybumblebee
I've only got good things to say about them here in the U.K...
kittyanya
Told my parents to donate all my boots to Cappa's closet. They donated to salvation army. I'm still mad. (Cappa's helps kids in bad homes)
kittyanya
To explain, I was in a car accident and my knee is perma arthritis now, so heeled boots are a no no with walking.
irrelevant18
Why is this still an organization?
kubricky
Fed should be looking at them for fraud or at FEMA for fraud waste abuse mismanagement if they paid then without verification.
gostoso666
Here in nz they gave a gay guy in rehab a rainbow pin the other week. Admitting you made mistakes and living differently is cool
FamousOnce
(Kiwi here). When I was a 17 yr old with no food or anywhere to sleep, they sorted me out within hours of me asking. They're good with me.
gostoso666
That's the only benchmark for me: what is my experience?
Dyslexicbirch
Couple years back when I did a cert II in retail I did some work placement at my local Slavos, the boss was so racist and sexist I hated-
Dyslexicbirch
Eveey second I worked there , luckly was only 2 weeks
sammi0285
I refuse to give to the Salvation Army. I only have a couple charities that I give to that I researched thoroughly. There are very few.
Adahman
I always give to the Salvation Army. They helped my family a great deal when I was a kid. (1)
Adahman
And they have one of the best donation to assistance rates going. Like 85% of all donations make it to people who need it.
MrSmalltown
I’ve worked in one of those warehouses as part of a federal service program. The emphasis on quantity over quality is infuriating
steviedrawsdinos
Give to local volunteer run thrift places that depends on donations..
kellzkellzhellzbellz
Worked as program director for large center. Sal Army is a crock. All about officers/uniforms. Took $$out of my programs gave to "officers".
kellzkellzhellzbellz
Saw far too many wrongs to make up for very few rights. Quit after discovered centers funds being used for private school for officers kids.
BlondJani
During WW2, according to my grandpa, Salvation Army would come to the troops and sell them new socks at a fairly high price. One time after
tboneallstar
Didn't know this, I've heard the opposite. I grew up in the salvation army and volunteered and seen where the money went and we did good 1/?
tboneallstar
I don't know about the disaster relief billing I've never been a part of that but I've helped with christmas gifts and bell ringing and 2/?
tboneallstar
Essentially what happens is when you get gifts for the Angel tree the child you sponsor most likely won't get it. I k ow that sounds bad 3/?
tboneallstar
But the logistics of making that work would be a rediculous load on Volonteers. Picking a angel off the tree to sponsor is symbolic of a 4/?
tboneallstar
Child you could be sponsoring, it's not a garuntee that specific child get the gift you bought. That being said super expensive gifts 5/?
BlondJani
...the Salvation Army came through, the Red Cross came through the next day. The Red Cross was giving away the same socks that the SA was...
BlondJani
...selling. Turned out the socks were being donated to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army was making money off
BlondJani
...frontline troops by selling them. My grandfather always hated them after that. Felt they were lowest of the low
Iatesomecoffeecups
Even back then? Crazy.
WhatShouldIUseForMyUsername
Jeez, that's fucking low of them
Lazarillo
As a former employee of the Red Cross, lemme tell ya, that organization gets a lot of flak from WWII vets, too (ask about the donuts!). 1/2
Lazarillo
...so I would take some stories of other nonprofits with a least a small grain of salt, too. 2/2
semiAnonymousMe
How is that even legal wtf
PAPASQUATT
Socks to sock
Peterowski
I live across the street from one of their large buildings. Workers regularly protest not being paid while bosses live for free and can
Peterowski
Afford to donate their time since all their bills are paid for. Also, they receive 5-10 trucks worth of donations a day and sell all of it
Samsquantch82
That really fucking socks.
WoolyBullyDoesNotRhymeWithSully
Works socks, I know..
mattproducer
ClearHistoryandWebsiteData
toetally
SeeHowItGoes
Jeepers, that's terrible. What has to be wrong in you to do that?
stumeister
A guy in town died and left $1.1 million to SA to build a new homeless shelter. . . .the money sits in their bank in Oklahoma. No shelter.
sirlapins
ANY aussies who have stories to tell ?
KnuckleDeepInAKangaroo
I volunteered for a month in 1 of their Melbourne food banks. The people there were lovely and they did their best to help people in need.
Vessecora
Only at a local level - there was a manager that lifted $1M from the SA store. And the amount of policies they have preventing them from/
Vessecora
Actually helping individuals is ridiculous. Their paid employees constantly get worked hard while losing benefits.
skincancerisfun
I live next to a house provided by SA to employees. People there are dicks. I did a stint of work experience at a SA community shelter.
skincancerisfun
People there weren't dicks exactly, but they were dickish. Still, they did seem to help people, so better a helpful dick than an unhelpful
skincancerisfun
friend. I don't like their op shop setups though. In our main road here, there is about 10 op shops. They use their tax-free status,
skincancerisfun
volunteer labor force and free stock to edge out other business. A lot of the stuff they sell is overpriced, meant to generate money not
skincancerisfun
provide affordable clothes to those who need it, and just like how pokies run on problem gamblers, there are compulsive op shoppers (like my
Shepardsweshallbe
The gift thing breaks my damn heart. We were a family that was fortunate enough to do the donating and to think of those little kids
StrongHammer42
It breaks my heart to see this. Parents being officers and all. Do not damage the reputation of all due to the corruption of some outliers.
StrongHammer42
I'm not going to deniy that it has happened and may be happening now. But I know the corps I have been a part of don't do this sort of stuff
ax2usn
Like all segments of society: selfish, amoral, bad people happen. No reflection on your work or that of parents unless you stand idly by...
Rodrodington
Don't feel too bad. As a kid who received kids (not from the salvation army), those "cheap" little gifts were amazing.
Goldenbeer
I think you meant gifts instead of kids...if not, then WTF.
Rodrodington
That whole 14 and pregnant thing is myth. We randomly received kids for Christmas.
Volimar
tbf, that seems like the kind of thing that could happen at any poorly supervised charity. I doubt that's a broad policy.
JuggernaughtJoe
I use to work for SA in a homeless shelter and volunteered at the christmas drive. None of that happened. Lots of cameras in the warehouse.
shroomiemies
As a previous employee tSA for over 10 years, look into your local SA. Many divisions do amazing work.
oddoregano
They are programs in you area that you can sponsor a family and give directly to them. Or you can try reaching out to shelters and see.
oddoregano
*oops, there are
Shepardsweshallbe
Yeah I’m gonna have to figure something out
oddoregano
I wish you luck my friend. I remember being a kid and holidays were just regular days. And regular days sucked. That why I like secret santa
oddoregano
On imgur so much. It's nice to make someones day. Not the same as helping a needy family. I commend your efforts.
moogledancerbop
After Katrina they were selling tents to people that lost a house. Not give, not discount, sell to people with nothing.
ThailandExpress
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KnuckleDeepInAKangaroo
None of those links authenticated the claims in the original post though.
temujin9
Okay? I'm just directing traffic.
AnonKneeMoose
In the comments.
whydoineedtochooseausername
None of the "citations" answer the question of SA staff taking from the donation "pot"; in any context.
temujin9
If you can't be arsed to link, maybe just don't bother in the first place.
GnomeDeGuerre
No, it is fair to lead people to the citations or to let them know that they exist.
temujin9
In an entirely polite and civil climate, perhaps. This is the open internet, which has not ever been anything resembling that.
temujin9
If you want to be helpful, actually be helpful. Otherwise, it comes across as a time-wasting troll.
whydoineedtochooseausername
Source please.
RogueBroomstick
I donated £5k in gifts xmas kids drive They didn’t speak to me apart from ‘put it all there’ (tens of boxes). Sold it in their shop.
showmanic
You went back and saw those items in their shop? And then what?
RogueBroomstick
Nothing. I spend money in charity shops as a way to help and teach my kid about helping. Do food banks etc. What could I say?
showmanic
You could teach your kid that being dishonest is wrong and confront those who apparently lied to you? Why couldn't you do that?
RogueBroomstick
I teach my child well and good. Think you need to tone you’re aggression down mate.
showmanic
No aggression, just the implication you are full of it. Make silly claims on the internet, you should expect them to be questioned.
RogueBroomstick
I wanted to make sure kids in my area has a present Xmas morning. Hates the thought that they wouldn’t. I was disgusted.
Peterowski
I live literally across the street from one of their regional headquarters. Multiple times there were protests because their truck drivers
Peterowski
(who actually collect and carry the donated stuff) hadn't been paid in months. The reply was that they should donate their time. Easy to say
Peterowski
When all your bills are paid for by the salvation army and you live for free in the HQ because of your rank, while people on minimum wage
UrGrammasMonkey
That's unfortunate, but officers do live on minimum wage. They make about $13k a year to cover food gas utilities clothing etc
Peterowski
Had to look for another job since the boss decided not to pay their salaries.
barbarian818
Having been a recipient of the Christmas adopt-a-family program, I can tell you that my local branch doesn't steal gifts. Quite the opposite
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wiezzenger
My family has been going to the Salvation Army church in our town for decades, it's an amazing branch that does a lot for the community!
iHaveNoMouthAndIMustMeme
I'm not going to let your single experience rob me of my right to be irrationally angry at a single experience posted on tumblr. *screeches*
Volimar
Yeah they helped me out a lot with Xmas gifts as a kid. I've seen kids get bikes and popular video games too.
NespreSilver
My father was a CPA, and used to do our local Salvation Army’s taxes for free. If he had seen something fishy he would have reported it.
Tyaldan
Much like the christian churches, your local one being good doesnt mean the whole org is. They are violently anti lgbt at a majority of them
barbarian818
When one of my kids was too old to qualify (but has special needs), one of the intake workers called around and found a family willing to
barbarian818
include him. That was above and beyond the call of duty in my opinion.
3MsAndaJTL
You mentioned when “mine got too old to qualify”. Our local chapter disallows those who request every year. Honest ?: is your different
3MsAndaJTL
Correction: you said “when mine was too old to qualify”. There is a difference. But I still ask the same question
barbarian818
We used our local chapter for four years straight. I can see a chapter turning away repeat users because of tight budget and wanting to give
barbarian818
others a chance. The last two years my one son was 17 and 18 respectively, so not an adoptable child. But they got him a gift card one year
shroomiemies
Former employee tSA for over 10 years here. I had a lot of issues with how they are structured and managed nationally. (1/2)
shroomiemies
Very open to corruption. Look into your LOCAL SA. Most divisions do amazing work. (2/2)
Sageypie
I mean, it's this right here. People will always have amazing stories to tell about the SA and horrible ones, and it all boils down to your-
Sageypie
-local branch. There's not much oversight for the different branches from what I've seen, so if you have corrupt assholes running the one-
Sageypie
-closest to you, then there's no repercussions for them doing asshole things. If it's run by good hearted folks, then it'll be good hearted.
LupusLilium
Food banks = generally good. Local one though (because I've never seen/heard about the insides of others) has some glaring issues but no one
LupusLilium
will enforce anything on them out of fear they would stop supplying a massive amount of folks with monthly food boxes. But they always cycle
LupusLilium
through donations far too late to the point that they don't check expiration dates enough for things like bread so unless you have the bread
LupusLilium
the day you get it it'll end up growing mold the next day. Also you get a bad case of the 'we work here' privilege where people scoop the
Uberdude100
When i was like 6 my parents gave my ~5ft teddy bear to them. I had no idea what/who they were and i hated them throughout my childhood
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Uberdude100
Calm down lol. I didnt know what the salvation army was. It was simply i was a kid and knew my toy was given away. What kid wants that
Gherkincensed
Maybe trying to get you to give it up? Sucks because lots of parents judge or deem things inappropriate when it's like, just let em be a kid
Batonrougeisnotsobad
I don’t disagree, but if I had to guess I’d say they gave it away due to the inordinate amount of space something that big would occupy.
ax2usn
I would have happily donated a life size doll that stood, wide eyed, in corner of my room. I’ve hated dolls since then... ugh.
Batonrougeisnotsobad
Oh, that’s terrible! But your delivery was fantastic so I’m still laughing and I’m sorry. I never liked dolls, either. Effing creepy!
ax2usn
Sayco dolls were conjured with ouija boards, I’m certain of it. 1950s dolls are *still freaky!
Gherkincensed
Who gave the bear to you though? They might have always hated it and came up with a "nice" way to give it away to some deserving.
stupidlongnamethatnoonewillreadanyway
I also hate your parents
degenerator
I also choose to hate this person's parents.
stupidlongnamethatnoonewillreadanyway
Uberdude100
Well i meant i hated the salvation army, but you gave me a good laugh. I love my parents lol
darynu
dick move by your parents too.
Phlynch
If it was a "Clean your room or were giving your toys away to someone who's willing to take care of them" deal that's just good parenting.
Uberdude100
Nah, i was a good kid, and had my fair share of stuff. I think it was mostly a clearing up space thing
PanNonOpticon
It really isn't. For a 6 year old it's traumatic. Shows he really doesn't own anything. Might turn him into hoarder later in life.
Phlynch
It shows them that you should take care of the things you have, because if you don't you stop having them.
Phlynch
Valuable life lesson for later on when the things they have are harder to replace after they break from lack of maintenance.
awstinfrown
Those stories are horrible. But I’ve seen first hand how the salvation army helps. Maybe there are bad eggs (very bad in these instances)
Freyja33
They also use the money they raise to lobby against lgbt rights all over the world, and promote conversion therapy.
Freyja33
This stuff is the norm for the Salvation Army. There are a ton of sources for this, I invite you to look up more criticism, it's out there.
ForgotMyOtherAcct
It is composed of local chapters being run their own way. It being 'the norm' really requires actual proof. Not saying they're saints but
ForgotMyOtherAcct
There is zero evidence anywhere in this thread (and I am not finding it online) that these issues are nearly universally endemic to SA. If
ForgotMyOtherAcct
Anything, the story should be more 'research your local chapter before donating' rather than 'they all are bad'
Whateverfits
Reading all those links and comments and I can't help but think you have a personal issue against them
Freyja33
Well I'm trans, and not straight, and the Salvation Army have a long history of homophobia, and transphobia.
MooyahCop
Ah, there it is... Now the reason comes out.
HurtfulTurkey
Having read just about every comment tree in this post, I must have missed the sources detailing bills to FEMA and theft of donations. Link?
ForgotMyOtherAcct
Having read through the whole thing later than you, there still has not been one posted
Jostorm
I would like to point out that although there are many sources that point out the negatives, it's pretty common that there be none - - >
Jostorm
<-- that point out the positives, and it's a shame. This is typically a manifestation of the concept of the silent majority, not to -->
Jostorm
<-- mention that a big organization like the Salvation Army is bound to have problems in localized areas, which however remain -->
Jostorm
<-- relatively small in comparison.
BlueLanternBraxx
My wife worked for two shelters run by the SA. They were all inclusive and filled with caring staff who went out of their way to help.
Freyja33
Salvation Army has left homeless people to die on the streets because they were gay, or trans. There are better organizations to support.
theuberkevlar
BlueLanternBraxx
And I'm sure you have lots of first hand experience to back that up. See, she worked there for years and helped many LGBT+ people, no sweat.
hardytardigrade
https://texascivilrightsreview.org/2010/07/21/jennifer-gale-death-caused-by-lack-of-shelter-for-transgender-homeless/
ishotjfktwice
You’re both right ...a trans woman did die but because she refused to go in because she would have to stay on the men’s side so she stayed
flapperfemmefatale
That's enough of a reason for me not to support them.
ishotjfktwice
Oh I don’t like work for them or anything I was just adding to the fire
ishotjfktwice
Outside and died ...but I’ve seen them take in patients of mine that had no where to go so like everything els some people want to help
ishotjfktwice
And some want to help themselves
octosocks
I'm sorry but the women in the shelter were perfectly entitled to have their safety preserved
ishotjfktwice
Oh I don’t like work there or have stake in the SA or control who they let in
Whatwhatsomethingbutt
Trans does not equal violent.
octosocks
I didn't say it did!
Whatwhatsomethingbutt
Sorry, guess Im confused. If their safety wasn't being preserved, the implication is a trans person is more likely to be violent.
Freyja33
I 100% do not buy that someone 'chose' to freeze to death. Sounds like a narrative made up to blame the victim or a legal defense.
ishotjfktwice
Well she had a heart attack cold just probably put extra strain on her...not uncommon
ishotjfktwice
And that’s the narrative from lgtb blogs I read to compare to the other articles so I doubt they are going to be fighting against themselves
brannana
“Well, she refuses to let us put her in a dangerous situation and we refused to cater to her safety, so it’s clearly her fault.”
NoNameFred
That particular shelter was at legal capacity for their female dorms. They said "as you are trans, we can bend the rules and let you stay.."
NoNameFred
"..but it would have to be in the male dorm." She declined, so they directed her to another shelter. Instead, she wound up outside a church
NoNameFred
and was found dead by staff who arrived to open up the next morning. Dunno why she didn't get to the other shelter. SA did what they could