Ok, putting myself out there and donning my flame proof suit.
I have read too many articles and heard too many radio programs on the pitfalls of the Red cross.. how they had raised $500 million after 9-11 and how only $1.5m went to the disaster relief and help.. and it goes on about how they spent money on other tragedies. Red Cross stated that they just stuck the surplus into a savings to save it for other problems that arise.. but to me.. if I am sending my money for help in the hurricane situation, that's what I want my donation sent to yk? Plus all of the money that just goes into their own pockets for salaries etc.. I just really want to find a different organization to send to.
Anyone have any other options that the Red Cross?
Please feel free to argue with this.. but I have read many times over bad things about the Red Cross and misappropriations of funds.. I just would really love some other venue to donate to.
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SAHMama to 4 beautiful little munchkins and one angel 6/26/05
I am not a very religous person, but several local churches (all different denominations) have some great ways to directly donate going on. It might be worth looking into.
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Jenn, wife to Dave and mama to Nicholas, Jacob, D, M and Z.
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I was kind of worried about the same thing. I found out that a local car dealership is taking non-perishible donations and filling a truck to drive down to LA. so I went out and bought socks and toothbrushes, toothpaste, deoderant etc. and dropping them off. I think this is a great idea and there is no "middle man" to take any of my donation like they might with money, I feel much more comfortable doing this. Not to mention I am familliar with this dealership and they do lots of charity work for our community so I do feel good about dropping off with them. I also just emailed my freecycle groups to let them know too.
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Charlotte wife to my hunky Nick
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I did not donate to the Red Cross simply because I knew they were receiving the bulk of donations. I sent my money to Planned Parenthood (one month of free birth control to evacuees), the Humane Society (rescuing pets and livestock) and the Austin food bank (I have ties to the area and they are housing a few thousand evacuees).
I don't have a problem with Red Cross using donations for various causes because people only give money when something huge happens, and there are smaller disasters every day -- fires for instance. I just felt like there were other charities doing work that was worthy of attention.
I have given to the Red Cross in the past and likely will again, as they assist soldiers and their families in crisis and I may need them someday.
we had a local radio station collect money & non-persihables on Friday and starting driving that night to deliver them to the Gulf. It was done through a website called www.stormaid.com
I think it was Friday, Roger Hedgcock was filling in for Rush Limbaugh when I was listening. He was talking about how a lot of the faith based organizations were doing such a good job getting in there and helping people, right from the beginning. I guess some of the larger organizations take longer to organize or something. He mentioned a specific example of how the faith based organizations were allowing people to bring their pets with them while evacuating. They seem to treat people more as individual humans, and not just a number. He spoke specifically about an organization run by a southern Baptist church, but also mentioned that many faith based organizations (like Catholic Charities) are also like that...
See, I would rather that people not donate specifically to "hurricane relief" because when that happens, lots of other worthy causes go under-funded. Our local food pantry is empty because all the regualr donors re-routed their donations. After 9-11 there were lots of organizations who had surplus funds but couldn't use them on the forgotten charities because they had specified "9-11", kwim? I got chewed out for donating canned goods to a local family instead of hurricane relief on freecycle the other day. Just today there was a "quit listing it here and donate it to Katrina relief" message on freecycle that just rubbed me the wrong way. I considered where I was going to donate my extra canned goods, and decided that a local family would be better served that the hurricane victims at this point, considering there is all sorts of aid and relief heading that way, and options are dwindling for local assistance. Admittedly, I am terrified of what this winter will bring. I already can't afford to get to school and back. Our heating bills were around $200/month last winter, and there were already plans to raise the rates. Now with Katrina they are going up even more, and there will be less assistance available to families like mine. I cannot even fathom where we will find $300 or more a month to heat our little home. Anyway, I've chosen to act locally because it will make a much larger impact than a tiny donation to a gigantic cause. Am I making any sense?
See, I would rather that people not donate specifically to "hurricane relief" because when that happens, lots of other worthy causes go under-funded. Our local food pantry is empty because all the regualr donors re-routed their donations. After 9-11 there were lots of organizations who had surplus funds but couldn't use them on the forgotten charities because they had specified "9-11", kwim? I got chewed out for donating canned goods to a local family instead of hurricane relief on freecycle the other day. Just today there was a "quit listing it here and donate it to Katrina relief" message on freecycle that just rubbed me the wrong way. I considered where I was going to donate my extra canned goods, and decided that a local family would be better served that the hurricane victims at this point, considering there is all sorts of aid and relief heading that way, and options are dwindling for local assistance. Admittedly, I am terrified of what this winter will bring. I already can't afford to get to school and back. Our heating bills were around $200/month last winter, and there were already plans to raise the rates. Now with Katrina they are going up even more, and there will be less assistance available to families like mine. I cannot even fathom where we will find $300 or more a month to heat our little home. Anyway, I've chosen to act locally because it will make a much larger impact than a tiny donation to a gigantic cause. Am I making any sense?
You make complete sense, and I agree with everything you and one of the previous posters said.. you are right.. red cross doesn't get an influx of donations the rest of the year like when a disaster happens.. so it is wise to put some of that money away for other times.. just seems from some of what I've read that some of the higher ups like to line their pockets a tad more when they get more money. I'm sure that happens in a lot of places though sadly.
I do donate locally through my Church.. and I'm researching places to donate now. Thank you for the advice. Oh personally.. when I have extra money, I tend to send it to doctors without borders. That charity always seems to tug at my heart the most.
We donated to Catholic Charities through our church, a group that is physically there hands-on helping right now with 100% of the money going to help, not to be squandered. I do not support the Red Cross.
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Veronica
Busy but attached mama to DS '93, DD '94, DS '98, DD '99, DD '01, DS '03, DD '05, DS '07.
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