Posted on 11/16/2014 2:17:25 AM PST by Fenhalls555
The figures are astonishing. There are more than 195,289 registered charities in the UK that raise and spend close to £80 billion a year. Together, they employ more than a million staff – more than our car, aerospace and chemical sectors – and make 13 billion ‘asks’ for money every year, the equivalent of 200 for each of us in the UK.
But many charities have become hungry monsters, needing ever more of our money to feed their own ambitions. And while registered charities claim that almost 90p in every pound donated is spent on ‘charitable activities’, many spend at least half their income on management, strategy development, campaigning and fundraising – not what most of us would consider ‘good causes’.
My book, The Great Charity Scandal, is not an attack on charity, but an attack on charities that put their own interests first.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
The stores are part of their job training program.
Be sure and save some to donate to the AlGore University for Reeducation of Climate Change Deniers.
Okay, so it’s accurate to say I’d be donating clothes to second-hand stores that employ people being helped by the Salvation Army. Last time they called, they asked if I had any clothes to donate to the needy.
Goodwill sticks in my craw. I’m sure they do SOME good. But they try to gouge the public when they were given these things free! Ok, make some money, but don’t gouge!
Not trying to be confrontational, but I’m surprised that you appear to be surprised by the SA’s “business model”.
The SA takes those donations and converts them to cash in order to provide funding for many of their efforts...the “management” are paid a very modest salary...last I heard, over 90% of what the SA takes/makes is returned to the community.
Local shelters or Christian “resource centers” might be a better place to look when donating clothing specifically to help clothe the needy.
I’m glad that I’ve been corrected about the Salvation Army. They are better than the rest at serving people in need. For me personally, if I donate clothes it will be directly to people. If I donate to the Salvation Army, it will be cash.
In this day and age, skepticism isn’t a bad thing...just needs to be balanced with information.
I too am very weary and leery of any “charitable” organization pleading for my dollars.
Whatever method makes you the most comfortable is the best approach to take.
Actually, my standard reply when at the store, etc. and I get tagged for a donation is “get it from Obama.”
Most of them are what I call Big Box Charities and aren’t worth spit. The only one I’ll drop my change in is SA, and they don’t hit you up at the cash register.
“The only true charity I’ve found so far is the Salvation Army.”
^This^
Also, the money they take in stays in the local community unless specifically given for cause (as in hurricane relief, earth quake, etc. for a given event at the time)
The other charities funnel the money back to the national HQ, little of which ever gets back out.
The SA does donate clothes directly to those in need, but most is sold to generate cash that helps far more. I have been at my local SA when they pack their truck with a load of clothing and take it to the local homeless shelter.
Food, rent, and heat is needed every day, clothes last far longer and aren’t needed as often as cash. And the SA does provide assistance in a very orderly way, out gov’t could take lessons from the SA on administering assistance payments.
But, if you remember, Hurricane Katrina “victims” refused “used clothing”, they demanded new or cash. So , even though they lost everything, used clothing was unacceptable to them.
Some folks are harder to help then others.
There are plenty of good charities. Many operate at less than ten percent overhead. You just have to look at the books.
I realize there are. I also realize how much I have and have had to pay in taxes. THEY are going to have to come to me and convince me rather than me doing all the research, frankly.
Don't give me that do-goody-good bulls---.
It’s worse here.
To me, it’s more about giving to those groups that support a cause I share. Too many charities are composed of intentions (some good, many ill) rather than hard work. I volunteer time rather than dollars and try to find organizations that need my limited skills or even just labor. Those that want only money are generally scams.
Having been in the Service for more years than I care to think about, I have come to despise United Way and most major charities. They prey on the lazy and uninformed. Tithes are a much better use of resources.
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