What in god’s name does the Salvation Army do? Have you ever seen them doing it? I’ve heard they run soup kitchens, but I have never seen one. Do they just stockpile money, planning to take over the world? Are they criminals, or maybe mobsters? Are they a front to the Illuminati? Why are you looking at me like that?
Check out their web site at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org
In my town, the Salvation Army only runs a used clothing store, but in larger towns, they do have soup-kitchens, give out Christmas presents to underpriveledged children, and a host of other nice things. As far as I know, they have no mafia connections.
They also ring bells around Christmas to collect money for their various philanthropic services.
I have read the Salvation Army operates with a very low overhead compared to most other charities. Most of the money you donate to it goes to help others more than paying salaries of the people who adminster it.
The Salvation Army is great, IMHO.
Here in NYC they do run real soup kitchens, low-pressure missions, and thrift stores… and probably more, but I don’t know.
But on top of that, they seem to practice what they preach by employing competent, but down-on-their-luck or disabled, persons in their facilities.
Furthermore, their stores provide a huge win-win-win situation here in NYC and other big cities. Affluent citizens can unload out-of-fashion clothes and furniture for a tax deduction (win #1); the goods don’t end up in a landfill (win #2); and poor families can get remarkably useful items for real cheap (win #3).
The only thing I DON’T like about the SA is that they stopped doing something that – I’m told – they used to do way back when. Namely, repair broken goods before they resell them. They would employ even more people this way, teaching them job skills and widening the net of acceptable donated goods. Unfortunately, these days the SA doesn’t want broken lamps, fans, etc. that could be made “perfect” again with just a new switch or plug.
There are actually SA chruches that members and any visitors can attend. My understanding is that it’s a non-denominational, general Christian church. If my memory is correct (which it may not be, but I’ll try to check my facts and report back), they have something to do with the temperance movement.
I know about SA from the usual things like SA stores and bell ringers, but I also received a different perspective because of something my Dad told me. He had served as a grunt in Korea, and apparently different aid organizations had comissary -style tents where they gave out personal items and food. The Red Cross had coffee, cigarettes, etc., but they only gave their goods to officers. The SA would give their goods to any soldier, sailor or Marine, regardless of rank. The SA members seem to gave carried that even handed attitude back to the US and into their neighborhoods, so I try to help out whenever I can. I especially like making donations in memory of my dad on his birthday.
They don’t do it where I now live, but in some cities they provide housing for homeless mothers. I used to volunteer as a computer basics teacher for this group.
Pretty nice charity, IMHO.
My Dad despised the Red Cross because of a similar situation - he was in Europe during WWII and said that the RC charged the soldiers for the coffee, etc., while the SA gave it away.
However, wasn’t there a scandal concerning the SA a few years ago,concerning an administrator who was selling large amounts of used clothing to rag companies and pocketing the proceeds?
and here I was thinking that was the realm of the catholic church! bugger me!
In my part of the world (Rural South Australia) the SA mainly run Thrtft Shops and give chrissy presents to underpriveliged kids and stuff. They also have another service where they assist with meals and refreshments for emergency services. I have been on several S&R operations, and every time, there was a decent feed waiting back at the forward command every time we went back. enough coffee and bickies to last a year! They’ve got my vote as far as helping out goes, but as far as their religious bit goes…does it even really exist?!
The SA is the only group in the UK that keeps a register of missing persons not suspected falling victim of foul play, they keep looking for runaways, lost spouses etc but always maintain confidentiality if needed for both parties.
They truly are based on what most folks concept of charity is, they do it just to help folk - no politics no judgements.
They provide hostels for the homeless but they don’t go for the glamour once a year at Christmas stuff that so many others do.
Goodwill Industries still does this.
From their FAQ:
What happens to donated items that aren’t sold at Goodwill stores?
Our goal is to try to generate money to fund Goodwill programs from every item that is donated. So in most cases, we’ll do what we can to get items in salable shape. If a donated appliance needs minor repair or cleanup, it’s often fixed so that it can be resold. As for items that can’t be sold in our stores, we’ve found other creative uses for them. For instance, some member Goodwills recycle old clothing scraps into industrial wipes (cleaning cloths) for industrial buyers. Other items that are too damaged for retail sales are sold to salvage brokers. Roughly 99 percent of all donated goods are re-sold in some way, shape or form.
How could this be a scandal? Almost every “charity-operated” thrift store is subcontracted to other companies, and the charity only gets maybe a 20% cut. Standard operating procedure for all charities, even at places like Goodwill.
Anyway, I am appalled at the displays of utter ignorance in this thread. Especially appalling is the repetition of urban legends about the Red Cross charging WWII soldiers for doughnuts. It is completely false.
But even more appalling is the mischaracterization of the SA as some benevolent nondenominational spiritual force. The SA is a VERY hardcore fundamentalist christian cult. Just as one example, they require total celibacy of their members. And their attempts to “help” the homeless are always accompanied by a stern lecture in fundamentalist christianity, which is about the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. The last thing a starving man wants to hear about is how some fundie thinks he should live, and have this forced down their throats BEFORE they receive a meal.
If you are thinking of dropping money in that red bucket, think again. Your donation will be used to spread fundamentalist christian doctrine, in the guise of “helping the unfortunate.” casdave’s assertion that “they do it just to help folk, no politics no judgements” is what they WANT you to believe. But it is NOT how they operate. If you want help from the SA, you will get it only on their terms. And that means you have to accept SA doctrine.
Chas.E said ““And that means you have to accept SA doctrine.””"
I am sorry Chas.E , but you are wrong. I have volunteered to help them at Christmas time in the past (by loading boxes with food and helping hand them out). They supplied boxes of food and toys for kids with absolutely no strings attached. No lectures, no preaching.
Sorry Chas but thats not the SA I recognise.
I suppose it is possible that there are groups of them who are similar to what you describe but not any near me.
My grandmother volunteered for the SA for 3 decades (she was a “general” or something like that). They definitely do not require chastity or anything like that. They are one of the great forces for good, for the Christian ideal of agape, love for your fellow man, around, although their Christian preaching is very low key. To besmirch this fine organization is unfair and untrue.
This is the Salvation Army’s official mission statement:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/aboutfol/about1.htm
They do have a missionary bent, but it also mentions meeting human needs without discrimination. I’ve never heard of a Salvation Army shelter refusing help to anyone because that person refused to listen to any preaching. When I’ve seen TV shots from homeless shelters, such as ones run by the SA, there seem to be a lot of people eating and only a few of them are listening to any preaching and the preachers don’t really seem to mind.
To only help someone who is going to listen to your particular religious conviction would be antithetical to Christianity.
Here in Austin TX, the Salvation Army is a major provider of shelter and food to the homeless. The work they do here is beyonf reproach, and though I’m a Catholic, I have no qualms about giving them money. I’d have no qualms about giving money to a Baptist, Jewish, Moslem or Hindu charity, either (provided I knew it was run by ethical, honorable people who were truly using it to help needy people).
I SHOULD point out, however, that contrary to popular belief, the Salvation Army is NOT a non-denominational group, never has been, and has never pretended to be. The Salvation Army is, in fact, a church, a separate Christian denomination founded by William Booth.
Booth was, to put it mildly, not a Catholic. It would be fair to characterize him as a fundamentalist, and I imagine that some liberal types who give money to the Salvation Army might be appalled at some of their doctrines. But frankly, I’m more than willing to overlook doctrines that I disagree with, because I recognize the practical value of what they do for the poor.
Now, does the Salvation Army hope that the homeless people they feed, clothe and shelter will be receptive to their preaching? Of COURSE! Why should that surprise or bother ANYBODY? The Salavtion Army merely recognizes, as many churches don’t, that people with nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat, and no clothes to wear aren’t likely to care about Jesus or the next life- they’re too concerned with their immediate problems in THIS life. If the Salvation Army is willing to go through great trouble, ministering to poor people’s immediate needs, in the hope that they’ll stay around and listen to their Christian proselytizing, what’s wrong with that?
I would only have a problem with them IF I heard from a reliable witness that they were blackmailing potential clients (“You say it’s 20 below outside and you want to come in where it’s warm? Well, not unless you let us baptize you…”) into conversion.
Not only do they NOT take broken stuff, they are also pretty picky about the condition of the items you donate.
When my husband and I moved here, I took the opportunity to get rid of a bunch of stuff stored in our basement. We had a desk/credenza set (matching) down there that was coated particle board, but it was office quality, about 1.5 inches thick. They took the desk, but refused to take the credenza because it had a one inch dent in the edge. The coating hadn’t even come off. :rolleyes:
I still applaud them for what they do.
BTW and FWIW, my husband’s company did some consulting work for Goodwill Industries when we lived in Cincinnati and he forbids me to donate anything at all to them. I’d love to say why he thinks so, but I’m sure I’d be violating some confidentiality clause.
The Salvation Army started out (before it had the name) as a ministry By William Booth in mid 19th century England as a way to get wayward, homeless people to attend existing churches. I could be wrong, but I believe Booth was originally a methodist. When the established churches did not welcome these smelly, scroungy people into their fold, he felt obligated to set up his own church.
The Salvation Army has a missing-persons database here in the United States as well, check out http://www.salvationarmy.usawest.org/prog_missing.html