[STARWISE]

My point is exclusively related to having lost it all and being on the grateful receiving end of vitally needed help and compassion. I wasn't charged for anything from any service agency after Andrew, including the Red Cross. We were inundated with supplies and necessities. But I've certainly heard the horror stories ..from my own uncle from WWII, and I absolutely find those practices unethical, disgusting and unacceptable.

Do we know that they charge people for their aid currently?

[GovernmentShrinker]

I've heard fairly recent reports (like in the past 3-4 years) of wounded soldiers receiving what they thought was free help from the RC -- meals, toiletries, etc. -- and then getting a bill in the mail a few weeks later. Presumably mail delivery was spotty where you were after Andrew. Maybe that's why you didn't get a bill.

[Hattie]

The stories from WWII about the RC charging for coffee etc, was done by the International Red Cross, not the American Red Cross. If you are ever in a real major disastor, fires etc, you will thank the ARC, believe me.