Think Charity Means Giving Someone Less Fortunate Your Old Shirt for Christmas? Think Again

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2...C-RSSFeeds0312

I knew that the good stuff was sold in the Charity's Thrift stores, but I had no idea what they did with the rest. I thought it was a very interesting news story, hope you all do too. Those poor people in Africa just can't seem to get a break.

Wow! I had no idea...

Thanks for posting..

I know Goodwill's uses the money they make on donations to help pay their workers salary They usually have some form of a handicap.(the ones who sort thru the donated goods.)

Salvation Army,I no longer donate to them...I had a washer machine that was still working but was in need of a repair ($150 to repair) They wouldn't except it..I figure someone could use it til it finally broke... it is better than nothing.. or atleast Salvation Army could get it repair and sell it for what it cost to repair ...Obviuosly they were only worried about making a profit

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Angels may not come when you call them, but they'll always be there when you need them.

I donate to goodwill as well. The prices around here went way up , but I still donate. I donate to red cross as well. I was on the recipient end one time and feel forever in debted to them!

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Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. - Will Rogers

I used to Volunteer with the Red Cross and we had agreements with some of the charities in town who have thrift shops. When we got families after a fire, we'd give them vouchers to go to the thrift shops and pick up some clothes. (We also gave them vouchers to go to Walmart and get some clothes, too, but that was usually enough for only one new outfit) So the best 10% that ends up in the thrift shops SOMETIMES was given to someone with a need.

By the way, I buy lots of clothes at thrift shops and feel that I am helping to support a charity while I get a bargain.

We donate either to a family we know or to our church. Our church then takes the clothes to a local battered womans shelter and gives the women and children the stuff for free. We have also been on the receiving end from someone (I do not know who) and will always continue to donate my used things. I like donating to our church though because I know they are doing the right thing with my old stuff.

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TLJ ~ Where opinions are encouraged, not deleted

You laugh at me because I am different,
I laugh at you because you are all the same.

Your mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open.

I donate my clothing directly to people who can use it either by giving to people myself or putting it in the free box at the local free clinic where the people who need come and pick through and take what they need.
I don't see anything wrong with charities selling clothes overseas, etc as long as they upfront with people. Many people would sell the stuff themselves or give it to friends or relatives but they believe by donating it will go to people who are needy.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Well I usually have garage sales I sale my stuff cheap jeans for .25 up to $1 I figure thats way better than these people buying it from goodwill where they charge like $7 a pair. I do know now though & just found this out the mission has a thrift store that is free and I also know the volunteers take what they want out of the sorting piles and goodwill does too & I am sure other places do that too.

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mom of 3 greats girls

Thought I would share this story with ya'll.

About 10 years ago Me and DH lived back in our home town where i became friends with a lady there.
She had 2 boy's that lived with her mother due to her not being able to provide for them, even tho she had remarried,, she married a drinker.The 1st Chritmas we lived where I met C , she came to me and asked if I could give her a ride to the Catholica Social Service to see if they could help with food and Christmas.I told her sure not a problem at all. We drove there and I waited outside of the interview room for C to come out after seeing the Social Worker. She said they were going to help with the food, Christmas and also they gave her a paper stating she could pick out XXX amount of clothing for her, her husband and the 2 boys. We went into this room where all the walls were lined in clothing and racks and racks of floded clothing were. C was going thru EVERYTHING omg seemed she took FOREVER to get what she did, but she finally got it all. On the way home she starts telling me later on can you take me to Wal-Mart, ( Me thinking she must of been given a giftcard for food ) I said sure , what do you need maybe I have it at home, She I SWEAR SHE TOLD ME THIS, Said she wanted to RETURN some of the clothing she got from the Catholica Social Service. Good Lord I almost wrecked my van, I was totally flooded by what she said. I asked her why and how could she do this ? she told me easy, they gave it to her now its heres to what she wanted with it.Needless to say I told her.No way was I going to help her defruad with returning items she didnt pay for and was given to her for FREE. That ended our friendship that day, I never spoke to C ever again.This goes to show you, there's ALWAYS someone out there that knows how to defruad, cheat and steal..

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MyCoupons Is #1 for Holiday Shopping

I try to give to families we personally know need the clothes/items we have. Last year we gave a TON to the autism society (my friend is the president of the local chapter) and they had a yard sale to help fund their research. I get the tax write off and it helps an organization close to our home. I have also taken items down to a business that collects for the homeless (they can come in and get stuff). I KNOW some people probably come in that don't need it....but I can only do what I can do

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Honestly, I am pretty pleased to know they are being used in some way instead of being put in a landfill somewhere.

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Panda

The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits. -- Plutarch

I firmly believe there are good and bad sides to almost every "charitable" organization. My husband used to work at Goodwill and it really opened our eyes. The store manager's priority was profit, plain and simple. The treatment of their employees was disgusting in my opinion. Yes, I realize they may do some good for people by training or employing those with problems, but they also legally pay those people less than minimum wage because they are a charity. Also, there has been much controversy here in the PacNW regarding the goodwill organization and the fact that the regional guy in charge makes a salary of $500, 000 plus per year.

One other thing that bothers me about the store here is that the items that don't sell quickly get smashed into a huge compactor and put into landfills. They will not donate ANY items to those who could use them because that is not the focus of their charity. It just bothers me to see so much(I'm talking about thousands of pounds of things that are still very usable) pollute the ground instead of being reused by someone who has nothing.

Debby