This Homeless Woman Explained Why People Should Stop Donating To The Salvation Army
According to their 2017 financial report, The Salvation Army–USA received over $2 billion from direct public support that year. Heather Snow, a homeless woman who had been living in one of their facilities, however, said nobody should donate a single penny to them ever again. She shared an emotional twitter rant about the ‘abusive’ experience she and other women were having in one of Salvation Army’s centers in Portland, saying the sole purpose of the organization is to make a profit (in 2017, it reported a surplus of $622M). The thread ignited a discussion where others responded that one rotten apple doesn’t mean the entire tree is bad. Scroll down to read the debate and leave your opinion in the comments!
She also posted this picture of locks on the fridges
Salvation Army responded to her thread
Image credits: SalvationArmyUS
Image credits: TehRedCoat
The 30-day exclusion Heather has received for “disrespecting” the staff and Salvation Army programs
Some people said they’ve experienced something similar
While others defended the organization
As a sister if a captain of the Salvation Army, I can tell you exactly where their money goes. As a captain, my sister is given a home, rent free, fully furnished. If she dislikes the curtains, carpet, kitchen table, whatever, she has it replaced by them free of charge. That goes for all captains. That is where your money is going. I gave up donating to them a long time ago, and instead donate to a charity that provides books and clothes to school children.
I had no idea. This is crazy.
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Are you a sister of a captain or a captain whose sister is given a home rent freee, etc. Your comment is contradicting itself.
I donate to local organizations because none of them bitches can be trusted. Facts about Salvation Army came out years ago but none of you seem to be keeping that in mind. Do some of them do good? Sure. Is it for profit and did they all get bonuses of a sizable amount? Yup. Goodwill might be a nonprofit HOWEVER, they're also for profit. No one works without incentives.
What exactly is a captain in their organization? What does a captain do?
This reminds me of years ago when my workplace dealt with them. You had to address people as Captain so-and-so (or whatever rank they were), not Bob or whatever their name was. All our other clients you might call Mr whatever when you first met, but first name basis would quickly follow.
My mum and grandmother always say “Don’t donate to the salvos, I already have too many things.” Too many things that aren’t selling. Instead of the Salvos maybe smaller ones, food banks, charities. Do not defend someone who treats them like that, they are complete idiots, idiots for everything. Good day.
That sounds awful. Question - does the salary reflect the fact that accommodation comes with the job? Some jobs in the UK come with a 'tied' property but usually the salary is low and they have to either furnish the property themself or put up with what they get. Definitely out of order that they can get things changed purely because they dislike them.
I think, as far as the staff go, you will get good and bad wherever you go. As for the money side of things, it's publicly available information that the Salvation Army in New Zealand alone has $500,000,000 (half a billion) in assets. It used to be that stuff you donated to them was sold cheap in their stores to those in need. Now it's sold for a lot more because buying second hand became fashionable. I donate my useful stuff to the charity I volunteer for, that give everything we get away for free to those in need. Nothing is ever sold. We have one paid staff member (they work 6-7 days a week rescuing food) and around 60 volunteers. Stock is given out through other agencies who ensure those receiving it are in genuine need. The Salvation Army is one of the organisations we give to, but we only give them rescued food for their food banks, not furniture, clothes, etc.
News flash! Many churches provide a residence for the pastor. It's called a Parsonage. Especially when the Officers/Clergy change locations as they do, why should they be dealing with a house they'd have to sell when Orders arrive and they're transferred. Please do some research before slamming an organization that helps people.
That is so messed up
Your honesty is well liked by myself and certainly others.
This comment has been deleted.
Shirley Creer: I understood it as TheKnightOwl has a sister, let's call her TheDayOwl, and she, TheDayOwl is a captain. So TheDayOwl got the free rent etc.
Had some furniture my boys had outgrown still in very good condition. I called the S A to donate it thinking it would be given to a needy family. Two scruffy men in a S A truck arrive and refuse to accept it because it was only pine timber and quote " we don't get a good price for pine furniture". i found a nearby church in the phone book and they were glad to accept it for a needy parishioner.
Had the same experience with a wardrobe I was trying to donate. It had a tiny water stain ON THE BACK and so the SA wouldn't take it.
I have done the same....screw the org's that CLAIM to help....I'll find my own way TYVM!!
Had the same thing happened to me. When I had to empty the appartement after the death of my uncle they refused everything from beds to washing machine. They said they were not modern enough. All the electrical equipment fonctionne, the living-room furniture was in perfect shape, the deux antique buffets had been also refuse even though they were in prime condition. Beggers are not choosers. Finally a found a lady who had taken all the appartement’s furnitures and more. This was free of charge and everything went towards safe house for women and children. Since I will not donat anything to them. Strange way of being a Christians
As in every institution there will be people working for the Salvation Army who really shouldn't be allowed to even enter the premisses. And they should be fired or re-educated. Denying that this problem exists doesn't serve the Salvation Army. I'm sure that the Salvation Army has people who really want to help people in need and I'm sure it's the majority of their employees. So why not investigate the accusations and take appropriate action? Throwing the woman out makes the Salvation Army look suspicious and untrustworthy.
And stupid.
Not stupid but heartless.
As a sister if a captain of the Salvation Army, I can tell you exactly where their money goes. As a captain, my sister is given a home, rent free, fully furnished. If she dislikes the curtains, carpet, kitchen table, whatever, she has it replaced by them free of charge. That goes for all captains. That is where your money is going. I gave up donating to them a long time ago, and instead donate to a charity that provides books and clothes to school children.
I had no idea. This is crazy.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Are you a sister of a captain or a captain whose sister is given a home rent freee, etc. Your comment is contradicting itself.
I donate to local organizations because none of them bitches can be trusted. Facts about Salvation Army came out years ago but none of you seem to be keeping that in mind. Do some of them do good? Sure. Is it for profit and did they all get bonuses of a sizable amount? Yup. Goodwill might be a nonprofit HOWEVER, they're also for profit. No one works without incentives.
What exactly is a captain in their organization? What does a captain do?
This reminds me of years ago when my workplace dealt with them. You had to address people as Captain so-and-so (or whatever rank they were), not Bob or whatever their name was. All our other clients you might call Mr whatever when you first met, but first name basis would quickly follow.
My mum and grandmother always say “Don’t donate to the salvos, I already have too many things.” Too many things that aren’t selling. Instead of the Salvos maybe smaller ones, food banks, charities. Do not defend someone who treats them like that, they are complete idiots, idiots for everything. Good day.
That sounds awful. Question - does the salary reflect the fact that accommodation comes with the job? Some jobs in the UK come with a 'tied' property but usually the salary is low and they have to either furnish the property themself or put up with what they get. Definitely out of order that they can get things changed purely because they dislike them.
I think, as far as the staff go, you will get good and bad wherever you go. As for the money side of things, it's publicly available information that the Salvation Army in New Zealand alone has $500,000,000 (half a billion) in assets. It used to be that stuff you donated to them was sold cheap in their stores to those in need. Now it's sold for a lot more because buying second hand became fashionable. I donate my useful stuff to the charity I volunteer for, that give everything we get away for free to those in need. Nothing is ever sold. We have one paid staff member (they work 6-7 days a week rescuing food) and around 60 volunteers. Stock is given out through other agencies who ensure those receiving it are in genuine need. The Salvation Army is one of the organisations we give to, but we only give them rescued food for their food banks, not furniture, clothes, etc.
News flash! Many churches provide a residence for the pastor. It's called a Parsonage. Especially when the Officers/Clergy change locations as they do, why should they be dealing with a house they'd have to sell when Orders arrive and they're transferred. Please do some research before slamming an organization that helps people.
That is so messed up
Your honesty is well liked by myself and certainly others.
This comment has been deleted.
Shirley Creer: I understood it as TheKnightOwl has a sister, let's call her TheDayOwl, and she, TheDayOwl is a captain. So TheDayOwl got the free rent etc.
Had some furniture my boys had outgrown still in very good condition. I called the S A to donate it thinking it would be given to a needy family. Two scruffy men in a S A truck arrive and refuse to accept it because it was only pine timber and quote " we don't get a good price for pine furniture". i found a nearby church in the phone book and they were glad to accept it for a needy parishioner.
Had the same experience with a wardrobe I was trying to donate. It had a tiny water stain ON THE BACK and so the SA wouldn't take it.
I have done the same....screw the org's that CLAIM to help....I'll find my own way TYVM!!
Had the same thing happened to me. When I had to empty the appartement after the death of my uncle they refused everything from beds to washing machine. They said they were not modern enough. All the electrical equipment fonctionne, the living-room furniture was in perfect shape, the deux antique buffets had been also refuse even though they were in prime condition. Beggers are not choosers. Finally a found a lady who had taken all the appartement’s furnitures and more. This was free of charge and everything went towards safe house for women and children. Since I will not donat anything to them. Strange way of being a Christians
As in every institution there will be people working for the Salvation Army who really shouldn't be allowed to even enter the premisses. And they should be fired or re-educated. Denying that this problem exists doesn't serve the Salvation Army. I'm sure that the Salvation Army has people who really want to help people in need and I'm sure it's the majority of their employees. So why not investigate the accusations and take appropriate action? Throwing the woman out makes the Salvation Army look suspicious and untrustworthy.
And stupid.
Not stupid but heartless.