An Experience with the Red Cross (VANITY)

e-mail | Sept. 8, 2005 | Inner City missionary working with the Red Cross

[theophilusscribe]

Sorry about the vanity. My friend has worked faithfully with the inner city, and has seen many lives changed. Because of God's work through her and her husband, many people from the projects have gotten educations and gotten out of the inner city, to lead godly, productive lives. In other words, I personally feel she has a right to speak out here.

Perhaps this is just a rare badly-organized Red Cross relief center, and if you have different stories about the good the Red Cross does, I would love to hear them. However, I have heard more negative than positive.

And I think people should know so that your money can go to ministries and organizations that actually help.

Thanks and God bless.

[theophilusscribe]

ping

[gopwinsin04]

I only donate to Salvation Army and Catholic Charities. Red Cross execs make something like 600k per year---unacceptable!

[Texas_Jarhead]

I assume this took place in NO?

[theophilusscribe]

I don't doubt it. The money is not getting to the people.

[dawn53]

That's why we give to the Salvation Army.

I even heard the Fox commentators in BR commenting on Red Cross rules about handing out new changes of clothes.

Is the Houston shelter run by the Red Cross or by the Tx government, because I did see they were handing out fresh clothes to people.

[FreePaul]

The Red Cross fears that situations such as you describe will become the norm and people will realize that disasters can be handled without the domination of the Red Cross. They are like any other governmental agency, they jealously guard their appropriations and right to collect money. In spite of that they manage to do some good. Not nearly what they should.

[theophilusscribe]

Sorry, should have posted location. This occured in the metro Atlanta area.

[native texan]

Your story brought back memories of my uncle in WWII. He told that if you wanted anything while on the battle field you found the Salvation Army, not the Red Cross. The Red Cross even charged our Army people for the donuts and coffee they handed out.

[texgal]

Your money is better spent sending it to the Salvation Army or directly to the churches that are helping. Houston has set up a Katrina Fund and the commission overseeing that has promised that every dime will go directly to the relief effort here in Houston. Jim McIngvale (Mattress Mac) is on that commission.

Look into the organizations that you give to. The Red Cross and United Way are bloated organizations that have heavy administrative costs.

[theophilusscribe]

Don't know, dawn53. I heard alot of churches were helping there, so maybe not?

[theophilusscribe]

I think you are spot on, FreePaul. And the Red Cross will become obsolete if they don't wisen up.

[rellimpank]

---they charged for coffee and doughnuts because a fellow named Eisenhower-who was in charge-told them to--

[Arpege92]

600k per year? Wow, that's a lot of dough for a charitable organization. Thanks for the warning....I'll pass on this info.

[theophilusscribe]

The Red Cross even charged our Army people for the donuts and coffee they handed out.

That is both despicable and heartbreaking, native texan.

[Sthitch]

This is the problem when the national Red Cross gets involved. It is an organization that works best at the local level. In the past I was one of the disaster coordinators for our county Red Cross. When we got a call from the fire department of a fire that displaced people(and they paged us right after they sent the emergency equipment), we would show-up with food, water, teddy bears, clothes, and vouchers. All we had to do was take down the name and address of the people that they were getting these items. It is not an arduous process, it takes two minutes. On the national level, it is far more bureaucratic, and my one experience with them turned me off from ever dealing with them again. I will continue to help our local chapter, and hope that some changes happen at the national and international level.

[aworldtrader]

agreed!

[pbear8]

But the Salvation Army gave the soldiers coffee and doughnuts.

[San Jacinto]

My donations go to the Salvation Army. The Red Cross and the United Way have been off my list for years. There are serious issues with both, IMO.

[listenhillary]

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/