I do not see the problem here:
1. These “scams” (private companies who buy the donations) pay out quite a bit of money to the charities
2. There are annual bids by these companies to ensure the charity gets the most money possible.
3. These “scams” provide THOUSANDS of jobs for Americans. (Those millions you mention as not going to the charity go to Americans who work for these companies; making cold calls, collecting items, thrift store employees, etc)
4. They collect your old household items, providing a time saving service to you!
5. These thrift stores help the poorer communities they reside in.
So where, yes, it is true that the charities do not get 100% of the proceeds from these collections, these companies are paying a lot of the remaining money to employees (in America). I work for one of these dreaded companies. My husband was laid off and I had to get a job to help support my children, American children in an American household. I live in a small town and jobs are scarce here, as many other places right now. This company is one of the only places within 100 miles of me that offers jobs on a regular basis. My family and I would be homeless right now if not for this “scam”.
Are there other places you could donate to? Sure. Will that charity get more of the proceeds? Yes. But do not demonize these companies. They are providing a service and at the moment they are also providing food and clothing for my children. I would think the American public would be pleased to help a company that is not only helping charities but also helping hard working American citizens. These jobs are not outsourced, like those at AOL, AT&T, Nike, and Microsoft to name just a few. We happily spend millions on their products yearly, yet they give jobs to overseas employees because it’s cheaper and the big wigs line THEIR pockets with your hard earned money. Everyone is trying to make a buck. I personally would much rather give money, donations, time, and respect to an American company with American employees. Support the AMERICAN economy AND charities at the same time. Sounds like a win win.
Thank you for your view on this. I did a Google search looking for info on the VVA, as I’ve been donating to them quite heavily. I wanted to know where their storefronts were- I thought they were like Goodwill. As I began reading the thread, I was having misgivings about my givings (lol). Then, I read your post and the one below it, and I AGREE with YOU 100%. While, I don’t like the shroud of secrecy surrounding the organization, I DO appreciate the jobs it creates. It’s economic stimulus.