To Give or Not to Give -- The Salvation Army

[Moondance]

If the cashier at the market wants a buck for The Jimmy Fund (or whatever), or if there's a fellow on the street with a cardboard sign that tells me he's a homeless vet (or whatever), I'm easy.

 

The exception to this is my hard heart toward the The Salvation Army because of its history with regard to the LGBT community (hiring discrimination, reports of assistance being refused to LGBT youth, referrals for conversion therapy). I walk right past those bellringers and their Red Kettles every year at this time for the month or more that they are set up outside the grocery story. But not without thinking about it.

 

Wondering if things have changed, I did some online poking around this morning and found this page on The Salvation Army's website (http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/nodiscrimination) -- a statement (specific to the LGBT community) about NOT discriminating in who they hire or who they serve. So ... is it time to reconsider?

[craigville beach]

I think, like so much of the rest of society, that the Salvation Army is evolving. When ever you see steps in the correct direction, no matter how small, the progress should be recognized. If you believe in most of the work that the Salvation Army is engaged in, than yes it is time to reconsider. I have.

[+ Truereview]

MoonD, I broke down 2 years ago and began giving to the Salvation Army. how did I get around it? I doubled my contribution to my local LGBT center.

[+ poolboy48220]

I still don't give to the Salvation Army, not even loose change (which I rarely have) in their red bucket. I feel like no matter if they've changed their views, there's still a 'penance' period. And a feeling that it's not sincere, that they've only changed because of pressure to do so, not through a change of heart on their part.

 

I still don't eat at Cracker Barrel.

[rvwnsd]

I still don't give to the Salvation Army. In addition to charities such as Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and Amnesty International (which isn't really a charity) I started giving to my local food bank and to an organization that helps elderly people by taking them shopping, out to eat, delivering meals, and visiting with them. This cause has become near and dear to me after my mom dies and my dad had no one other than my brother (and me when I was in town) to take him places.

[geminibear]

A few years ago a small apartment building a couple of blocks from me had a fire on a cold winter night. The Salvation Army truck and bus were there providing blankets and assistance to the displaced families many with small children, as well as providing coffee, hot cocoa and sandwiches to the hardworking fireman. I always drop my spare change in the kettle, if not a bill here and there.

 

I don't eat at Cracker Barrel either.

[rvwnsd]

A few years ago a small apartment building a few blocks from me had a fire on a cold winter night. The Salvation Army truck and bus was there providing blankets and assistance to the displaced families many with small children, as well as providing coffee, hot cocoa and sandwiches to the hardworking fireman. I always drop my spare change in the kettle, if not a bill here and there.

 

I don't eat at Cracker Barrel either.

Admittedly, the provision of those types of services make me want to reconsider donating. However, where I live the Salvation Army does not provide those services (Red Cross is prevalent here).

[Rudynate]

If the cashier at the market wants a buck for The Jimmy Fund (or whatever), or if there's a fellow on the street with a cardboard sign that tells me he's a homeless vet (or whatever), I'm easy.

 

The exception to this is my hard heart toward the The Salvation Army because of its history with regard to the LGBT community (hiring discrimination, reports of assistance being refused to LGBT youth, referrals for conversion therapy). I walk right past those bellringers and their Red Kettles every year at this time for the month or more that they are set up outside the grocery story. But not without thinking about it.

 

Wondering if things have changed, I did some online poking around this morning and found this page on The Salvation Army's website (http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/nodiscrimination) -- a statement (specific to the LGBT community) about NOT discriminating in who they hire or who they serve. So ... is it time to reconsider?

 

I have always thought of the Salvation Army as a fundamentalist church. I wouldn't donate to any fundamentalist church as a matter of policy.

[sincitymix]

I donate to the salvation army, despite reading an article about the excesses of their executives. Mansion, cars, pension for life. (they stay under the radar by having all the houses and cars in the organizations name, but have free use of the houses and cars in perpetuity)

[MikeyGMin]

Admittedly, the provision of those types of services make me want to reconsider donating. However, where I live the Salvation Army does not provide those services (Red Cross is prevalent here).

 

I see many things through the lens of my sexuality and politics, but not when it comes to charitable donations. If they refused to serve our community, that would be one thing, but as long as they provide boots on the ground services to needy people I go ahead and drop a couple bucks in the kettle.

 

I also donate when a local church comes by collecting for a food bank. I'm a complete atheist so I'm sure our beliefs don't align, but needy people are needy people.

[Kenny]

When you've been repeatedly slimed and demeaned for years, it is not unreasonable to want a clear, frank, straightforward apology before deciding whether the offender has sincerely changed. Sally has not done that, so I won't give them my support -- especially as there are hundreds of other clearly worthy charitable causes.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/12/08/3600668/salvation-army-lgbt/

[Rudynate]

I'm not catholic, but I like to donate to Catholic Charities. They REALLY stepped up in San Francisco during the darkest years of the AIDS epidemic. They bought themselves an inexhaustible supply of good will with me.

[whipped guy]

There are a lot of good organizations and individuals out there who represent all that society has to offer. They are on the right, the left, some are religious, and others are not. Some hold profound beliefs with which others might disagree. If an organization is doing good deeds it is being overly rigid not to consider the overall picture. It is strange how many who profess to be the most inclusive and tolerant often are not respectful of the sincere views of others.

 

There is no such thing as perfection in this world and there is nothing that is without fault. I personally don’t exercise a narrow minded litmus test to make judgements regarding what is acceptable.

[+ purplekow]

This is the second or third year I have passed by the kettle. It is very difficult to do as I know of the good work they do. But the corruption and the policy toward LBGT community have me looking for other ways to give my charity dollars. I will give to just about any Animal Charity. I am a sucker for the sad dogs on the literature. I try to check into the organizations but I must admit, I tend toward the kind of donator corrupt charity heads want, those who give without really knowing where the money is going.

[+ poolboy48220]

When you've been repeatedly slimed and demeaned for years, it is not unreasonable to want a clear, frank, straightforward apology before deciding whether the offender has sincerely changed.

Exactly how I feel.

[jackjackjack]

I do give to Salvation Army when I see their kettle.,..maybe out of habit.....and even though I think they have lots of money. . remember a few years back, Mrs. Kroch, wife of McDonald's founder left them about $1.5 billion dollars.

I stay away from big charities like Red Cross and United Way... when I see the huge salaries they pay. The other one I give to is DAWG here in town... a great no kill animal shelter.

[+ Charlie]

I prefer to make all my genuine charitable donations to local organizations, because I can determine pretty easily whether they actually do the good works they claim to do. I also avoid most of the big organizations because I know that a large percent of my money will go to advertising and administration. Although I am a non-believer, I give substantial financial support to a local religious "rescue mission" because they do good work feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless. When I do, it reminds me of the fact that, more than a century ago, when my grandfather was down on his luck, after being injured when a security guard threw him from a train he was riding as a hobo in the West, a small urban interdenominational "gospel mission" in Salt Lake City got him back on his feet (two years later he was a serious candidate for the New York state senate).

[MsGuy]

I'm not catholic, but I like to donate to Catholic Charities. They REALLY stepped up in San Francisco during the darkest years of the AIDS epidemic. They bought themselves an inexhaustible supply of good will with me.

 

You might want to add your local Society of St. Vincent de Paul to your gift list. It's a Catholic lay organization that runs thrift stores, homeless shelters, food banks and provide free hot meals & all sorts of general assistance to poor folks needing help. It's volunteer driven, locally organized & the guys that run it get no compensation at all.

 

St. Vinney folks couldn't care less whether you're gay or white or if you're Catholic ( they're completely independent of the church hierarchy). Hell, they don't even care if you're 'deserving'. They're very mission oriented and very effective and efficient at what they do.

 

Most mid-sized and large US cities have a local St Vinneys.

[Kenny]

Certain actions are beyond the pale, making the question of tolerance of diverse viewpoints moot. Sally has turned down civic contracts resulting in closure of programs for the homeless and senior citizens because of government requirement that city contractors must provide spousal benefits to both same-sex partners and opposite-sex partners of employees. When other charitable agencies also do good works without such moral obtuseness, donating to them rather than to Sally is just sensible.

[Rudynate]

You might want to add your local Society of St. Vincent de Paul to your gift list. It's a Catholic lay organization that runs thrift stores, homeless shelters, food banks and provide free hot meals & all sorts of general assistance to poor folks needing help. It's volunteer driven, locally organized & the guys that run it get no compensation at all.

 

St. Vinney folks couldn't care less whether you're gay or white or if you're Catholic ( they're completely independent of the church hierarchy). Hell, they don't even care if you're 'deserving'. They're very mission oriented and very effective and efficient at what they do.

 

Most mid-sized and large US cities have a local St Vinneys.

 

I'm glad to know that.

 

 

T

[Rudynate]

You might want to add your local Society of St. Vincent de Paul to your gift list. It's a Catholic lay organization that runs thrift stores, homeless shelters, food banks and provide free hot meals & all sorts of general assistance to poor folks needing help. It's volunteer driven, locally organized & the guys that run it get no compensation at all.

 

St. Vinney folks couldn't care less whether you're gay or white or if you're Catholic ( they're completely independent of the church hierarchy). Hell, they don't even care if you're 'deserving'. They're very mission oriented and very effective and efficient at what they do.

 

Most mid-sized and large US cities have a local St Vinneys.

 

Thanks for reminding me of SVDP. I also like St. Anthony's Foundation here in SF. I like to donate locally, where the dollars can have the biggest impact.