Hey, you are responsible for where you chose to spend your money and what you are happy with that saying about you. If you don’t know about any problematic views or behaviours then hard to see that as a black mark against you. Once you do know, that’s a matter for your own conscience.
So let’s say you now find out that your mechanic is a KKK member and funds it through his garage…still happy to give him your business?
Why have you been penalizing homeless families ready to move into a home by giving your contributions to Salvation Army instead of Habitat for Humanity?
Think of all these poor kids who just want a roof over their heads. And you’re punishing them by not giving money to Habitat for Humanity. “Hey kid, you want a warm place to sleep at night? A room, bed, and kitchen you can call your own? Well fuck you, here’s a teddy bear.”
(I think most people will understand the faulty logic at play here… but some may not realize it is the exact same twisted reasoning I see in ace’s posts.)
The idea that if you don’t want to support a homophobic organization, then you do support neglecting the homeless is… checks forum. Nevermind. I’ll show myself out and won’t return.
How did the SA manage to achieve such favored solicitation status in front of stores anyway? Were they just the first to do it widely so have squatter’s rights to the space? Why don’t a wide variety of other organizations doing good works also vie for that space?
Many do vie for the space and stores are increasingly not allowing groups to be in front of the doors. See Target mentioned by someone above.
SA became associated with the Christmas Shopping season long ago. You see them or something close to them in old movies and TV shows if the season is appropriate. Squatter’s right is probably a good way to put it.
Some do. The Girl Scouts, for instance, camp out in front of the supermarket trying to sell cookies. (And don’t get me started on that; only a tiny fraction of the money goes to the actual local troop.)
Or the over priced Boy Scout popcorn (says the father of a boy scout). Then there are the Soccer and Cheer Leading teams and Vet Groups and hoards of others, but Christmas is mostly SA. Or at least most obviously SA.
I’m not trying to defend the SA or their views, but, to be fair, lots of charitable organizations have “signature” fundraising activities. Some sponsor marathons/runs, some associate their fundraising activities with other holidays, and some do direct solicitation/mailings. Having a kettle at stores and ringing a damn bell around Christmas is one that was adopted by the SA. Makes sense, considering they’re a Christian organization. I’m not aware of any other group fighting for that space at that time of year. It’s used by the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and a bunch of other groups at other times of the year. I don’t contribute, but I don’t think they’re squatting.
BTW, I worked with a county Habitat for Humanity for a couple years and then quit when they (the board) plainly stated that they would not consider applications from non-minority families. That’s right…didn’t matter what your financial situation was, if you weren’t a member of a minority group your application was immediately trashed. I DO NOT believe that this was general, national policy, but it was for the local group I was working with.
Okay, that’s pretty awful… I’d like to know if that is established SA policy, or was just one hideous example of some boob misusing his authority.
I believe that SA shelters don’t normally, as a common course of doing business, refuse to give food to gays… But I’m prejudiced enough against the homophobic sons of bitches to believe it pretty readily if anyone can show evidence.
There are many people who have been saved by the aggressiveness of the SA program,and who may never have gotten sober (or even received treatment) any other way. But just as many have been scared off from treatment programs in general because of the single-minded inflexibility of the SA program.
It broke my heart when I first read about the bigotry against gays - and yes, Trinopus, it extends to refusing gay people places in their addiction treatment programs, and halfway houses. It’s a very serious problem, because they are the largest provider of no-fee residential addiction treatment in the country. In many areas, there’s no other option.
After a good deal of thought, I felt I could not in good conscience support them anymore.
Wait, there are places with SA programs but no AA programs? That is hard to believe.
(Not that I am the largest fan of AA either, but they seem to be everywhere in the US)
Are you saying that there are no non-homophobic charities you could donate to instead, or is it just that you’re too lazy\ignorant\bigoted* to find one?
Surely if the Salvation Army were really concerned about the needy they would drop their “political agenda” and concentrate on their charity work. Instead they’ve decided that their homophobia is more important, and expect everyone else to go against their beliefs.
** Delete as appropriate*
I think Christmas is their biggest source of local donations.
Angel Tree is different. SA puts together a list of local needy families and the kid’s gifts items. Shoppers get a card from the Angel Tree, buy the items, and drop them off. SA distributes them.
You’re not giving anything directly to SA. They’re just a distribution channel to the families.
I like it because the donated items are things the kids requested. Instead of me randomly buying a teddy bear the child may not want.
Isn’t that exactly what the SA is doing?
You’re all heart, ace.
Salvation Army is creepy AS HECK in my opinion. Plus there have been exposure deaths attributed to their refusal to shelter LGBTQ+ people. I will not give them money or support them in any way, and I am far more likely to give my patronage to stores that ban their presence. I donate to organizations like Outside In and Central City Concern, instead; these organizations divert far less of the donation money they receive to lining the pockets of a bloated quasi-military administration.
My initial reaction to the OP was a shrug. Why does it matter that this store has chosen to support one organization over another? After reading about the Salvation Army’s homophobic policies, I have changed my mind. Now I applaud Belk for this choice (though I realize the choice may not be linked to the SA’s bigotry). I’ve never shopped at Belk before but I know there is a store in one of the malls nearby. I think I will check it out.
I don’t understand the OP’s reaction about “the hate in here.” Where do you see hate? I see it only in the SA’s bigotry. There are plenty of organizations working to end homelessness and support struggling families. The SA is hardly the only game in town (a sad indictment of the times we live in). So choosing to donate to a different organization, one that aligns more closely with one’s moral positions, seems both thoughtful and reasonable. And not in any respect an expression of hatred toward the vulnerable members of the community.
TruCelt: Thanks for that. I’m very sorry to learn that they are that extreme in their hatred, that they would prefer to see someone suffer from alcoholic addiction than to treat them. That’s the ugliest thing I’ve learned in a long time.
Bullshit. Right down the road from me is Brunswick Family Assistance which in 2015 provided services to
It provides these service regardless of the spiritual affiliation or sexual orientation of those receiving services. They don’t discriminate in hiring or promotion. There is no requirement to hate a segment of the population, unlike those Salvation Army asswipes. Why should I support those douche-bags, when I have a far worthier organization available?
The “Sallies” (as I grew up being taught to call them) are one of the few national/international charities I have any real appreciation for due to the experiences of several relatives in WW II. Your mileage is more than welcome to vary.
I am fine with any store or business that says they don’t want the Kettle Campaign at their door.