I want to make something very clear here. I am in no way attempting to take any credit away from the unconditional intent from so many people and or organizations but haven't you ever wondered, where is all that money going to? Have you ever wondered, just how many local Families are in such a bad way that they have to depend so much on these donations?
For examples, WBOC raised over $265,000.00 this year for their Bless Our Children campaign. The Salvation Army has been known to raise more then $300,000.00 as well. The local Law Enforcement agencies and Fire Departments have been known to give out literally hundreds of bicycles and have adopted Families each year. Wicomico County will probably deliver more then THREE TONS of food to the Maryland Food Bank. Then there's Toys For Tots, Churches and the list goes on and on.
In case you weren't aware, the Salvation Army also gives out hundreds of free and complete dinners for Christmas. Perdue donates hundreds of Turkeys not only with the Salvation Army but also the Maryland Food Bank.
Hundreds could mean 200. One would think if it was over 500 Families, well, they'd probably say they help more then 500 Families. So let's be fair and say it's 400+ Families. Isn't that $600.00 (+ or-) per Family? Then there's the Salvation Army and ALL of the other non profits who raise millions of dollars, (all together) in our area and you just have to ask yourself, REALLY?
Just how many Families locally are that destitute that they cannot take care of their children for the Holidays AND is it really that important that every child get so well cared for because their parents don't even have to try to do better when they can just as easily get on a list where everyone else will take care of them.
I know, heartless, isn't it. Like many of you, we grew up broke. Did we turn out bad because all our friends were getting the latest and greatest, NO. I can truly tell you, what we did get was extremely appreciated. In our spare time we'd find ways to mow lawns in the summer or shovel snow in the winter, (you get my drift). If we NEEDED things, we earned it, took care of it and appreciated it that much more.
Then we discussed free breakfast and lunch at school and let's not forget the free food the children get during the summer months. Then there's free college, free school supplies, affordable housing, EBT Cards, welfare, free Christmas presents, when is enough enough. What drives these people to get jobs so they can provide for their families?
We also discussed, how does anyone know one family isn't on every non profit list? In other words, why not get on WBOC's, Salvation Army, Church, Toys For Tots and whatever else is out there, who regulates this? What's stopping people from getting on every list.
So yes, I'm the bad guy bringing up a topic thousands of you think about but are way too afraid to say anything. The cool part is, you can remain anonymous and share your thoughts on this matter. It seems to me that the ONLY thing these organizations are interested in is breaking last years record numbers, yet you never see the end result. They BEG you for the money, you GIVE from the heart but you never see any financial records. I mean, they'll knock on the door to interview the family of a child that was just murdered an hour ago but they won't show you where all that money went???
I can tell you first hand when we gave out 300 turkeys one Christmas Season, honest to God we had multiple people, (the same people) coming back three to four times to collect a free dinner, so please don't tell me people do not take advantage of such free programs.
We want to hear your thoughts on this matter. There needs to be a way these organizations can come together to make sure their unconditional giving isn't abused. We also need to come up with a creative way to get these people off a lifetime or even generations of entitlements.
Finally, God Bless All of you who not only make such donations but especially those organizations who run these programs. I know first hand how trying it is to pull them off.
52 comments:
I would like to know how many poor working white or black family's received help from bless our children? My answer is none!!! I have serious doubts that any working class poor family's received jack from bless our children. My church helped angel tree ministries, and they didn't give us so much as a thank you for our help! I would like to know personally where the money went. I am certain that none of it went to poor working class poor white or black families.
Does the WBOC News division take a tax deduction for all of the promotion it does during the news broadcasts? Do they consider it a "donation" to the charitable arm of Draper Communications, and in return factor what the air time is worth (at open rate) and record that on the tax return?
It seems like a legal means to reduce their tax liability, and would explain the incessant begging for "Bless Our Children" during each nightly news show.
Having worked for a non-profit that solicited funds for toys and food for Christmas, I can verify that there is a lot of abuse. When you see people who "qualify" driving Escalades and wearing gold jewelry, it is hard to feel good about giving them new bicycles, clothes, toys and food for their families. Many of these folks receive "donations" from multiple charities.
If the local non-profits were smart, they'd get together and adequately screen/qualify individuals to one agency only, so the system can't be scammed. If you can drive a late model or expensive vehicle and are wearing multiple rings, bracelets and gold chains, I'm not sure you should receive any assistance. It is a question of priorities and should the public support your poor choices by giving you "free stuff"? I doubt most donors want their generosity used that way!
I ended up leaving the job because I felt those in charge weren't being good stewards of the public's donations. The Eastern Shore is a very giving community. Funds should go to those who truly are in need. Your post makes many very valid points.
You have hit the nail on the head. These so called organizations have become one of the largest scams in our country. The only one that I trust is the Salvation Army. If you have noticed they all pray on your feelings with "it's for the children" , now who does that sound like? Hillary Clinton!! Trump is a commin!! Anyway , thanks for the years of professional good reporting Mr. Albero . WE have a lot of work ahead of us in the next four years , what a mess obama has made. CAN DO !!
Amen Brother.
I do not give to any of those charities.
They already get everything for free
If I know someone in need I will help
Lack of accountability is my main concern when asked to donate. Specifically, I recall Haiti.
I'm thinking where is all that money going?everybody with a cell phone could donate 5 bucks by sending a text. Any idea how much was pledged? How it was used?
1:37:
I completely agree!
Build it, and they will come.
how is it possible that bless our children can take donations up until Christmas eve and then get presents wrapped and under every tree for all the disadvantaged children? I have a lot of faith in santa but wow! And btw, I bless my own children.
I was wondering the same thing 7:54 really I don't give to this type of donations either. I'd rather just tip the young waiter or waitress that's in college a little extra at least I know where it went.
There is a lot of fraud in charities, especially from the welfare crowd. That's what they're used to. I fully support giving to those who cannot help themselves. But those who can work should be working. End the welfare and these people, no matter what color they are, will stop having so many kids. This madness needs to end.
I am not wealthy but have what I need to make ends meet (every day worker). It does my heart good to give when and where I can. For the dishonest to take or double dip riding high on the hog, you are stealing from someone that honestly needs help. I would say go to hell, but it wouldn't bother you low life subjects. I try to help year around where I see a need. I like Salvation Army and hope I'm not being hoodwinked by them. Small things like grab a dinner check of a stranger and tip more generous during Christmas is a good feeling also. We could go on and on about this subject, like there are good people that really could use a hand and will not consider it. One thing for sure this free crap needs to come to a halt or we can't exist long. And I do not have any problem helping where needed. Happy New Year!
Undoubtedly, in any charitable giving is abuse with people collecting multiple times or with no need at all, whether non-profit or government.
I figure, that may be the price you pay with any charitable activity.
But the needy WILL get the charity offered. All we can do is keep the percentages of truly needy getting the gift as high as possible, with fraud as low as possible
WE have more than enough charities helping disadvantaged children as they should at Christmas time. But I wonder why nobody ever tries to help the older folks. The ones that only have Social Security to live off. They worry about paying the electric bill. Also where their next rent money or house payment is coming from. Some of these people live by themselves and have nobody that comes to visit them on Christmas or any other time for that matter. I know some that put on a good front like everything is okay. But really they are about to lose their house and they get no welfare or food stamps or any other kind of help because they are used to working for what they have. Only thing is they can't work anymore because of health problems. Seems like somebody should think of these elderly folks and try and give them a helping hand once in a while.
The Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary do amazing work all year round, with extra giving at the holidays. Meals, coats, toys. They get money from Bless Our Children and other groups to purchase toys and do a distribution. They also receive toys from local people through their churches and civic groups.
They keep records of every receiver of the toys and try to be diligent about avoiding scammers, but in the end, if someone is determined to cheat, all they can do is leave it to God.
Their records allow them to reach out through the year to people who've shared their life's burdens: Suddenly finding yourself with three grandchildren two weeks before Christmas, discovering your husband has gambled away the Christmas money, losing a job so Christmas gifts are suddenly a Luxury that they never were before, etc. All kinds of tragedies befall people.
The missing piece here with all these wonderful charities might be that if there is nothing taught, or no follow up, so that people can bless their own children in the future then 'get toys at charities' becomes the plan.
As a child I benefitted one year from one of these charities when severe illness had beaten my parents down all year and loving wonderful people made sure we children had a magical, well-fed Christmas. Been paying it forward ever since I could!
Salvation Army needs to do a better job of "qualifying" people who receive donations. Their Army leadership is not "smart" about how to best use the funds they receive and the Board is for show with no real power. Food for thought - if their goal is to help the poor, why is it they NEVER participated in the homeless shelter project when they have two gyms, at least one with showers, and a kitchen in the basement of their Church? The answer was - it would mess up their youth basketball. It seems to me real leaders would have figured out a way to meet this need - area churches certainly did. Salvation Army is living off its past history - it is not the organization it once was.
The only charitable organization I truly trust is the BPOE Elk's of Salisbury. Every Xmas eve they hand deliver donated groceries to the needy. We are supplied a list of qualified folks from one organization and personally deliver these items to the recipients. In all of the years that I have been participating, I am satisfied with the needs of these people. 98% are seniors, who above all need the help. The gratification is overwhelming. A lot of them are so happy to have visitors and someone to talk to. Anybody can join in - Elk or not.
I hand the people in need money not going through a charity to pay for fancy office space and salaries.
I feel the ones that truly need the help or deserve it are not the ones asking for it. I for one absolutely enjoy helping those in need but despise the ones just looking for free handouts. Most of the ones that are there for the Free stuff take it to Walmart and return it for cash! All I can say be wise who you help and if they truly need help be generous. God bless.
I was turned off by this by watching one family and the Salvation Army several years ago. The family lived in Salisbury in close proximity to the Salvation Army. They lived close to a small business where I was working and that is how I came to know them. There was a brother and his wife and they had 2-3 kids and his sister lived there also and she had 2-3 kids. The parents were alcoholic drug users who did not work. They got welfare because of the kids, they got free medical care because of the kids, and every year they would go to the Salvation Army and "get Christmas" for the kids. I worked in that neighborhood for several years and each year the same thing happened. Meanwhile every penny that the parents could get their hands on went to drugs and alcohol. I know that a lot of people say, "Oh but that isn't the kids fault and they deserve a Christmas." My point would be that while it is true that it is not the child's fault, it also is not my responsibility to assure that every child who is only brought upon this earth by people who know they will get more if they have more children receives a "good Christmas." You brought them into this world to get more, you did get more. Use it for the child. Really turned me off of these type of charities. But I have also seen the ones who pull up in the Escalade to pick up Christmas for the poor kids. Don't want to say where I worked, but it was real close to the Salvation Army. Saw it often. I think if a person is on welfare and free medical care and etc.., etc..., they should be fixed after two kids or the help gets cut off. Why should my tax dollars pay for someone to breed kids that they don't take care of anyway and then it becomes a never ending cycle. If you can't afford kids-don't have them.
I want you folks to know about a website called: GuideStar USA, Inc. is an information service specializing in reporting on U.S. nonprofit companies. In 2010, their database contained over 5 million IRS Forms 990 on 1.9 million organizations. Wikipedia
Tax ID: 54-1774039
CEO: Jacob Harold (Oct 2012–)
Headquarters: Virginia
Founded: 1994
Wounded Warrior Project is a charity and veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for wounded veterans of the military actions following September 11, 2001. It operates as a nonprofit 501 organization. Wikipedia
Tax ID: 20-2370934
CEO: Anthony K. Odierno (Mar 10, 2016–)
Founded: 2003
Look them up, A lot of people make around $500,000.00 a year with perks.
Red Cross has over 1100 people making over $100,000.00 a year and many make $500,000.00 a year. and the list goes on.
I got married had kids paid all of my bills. My neighbors had kids Got free health care until the kids were 26 years old. They paid for nothing. Then they got married and kids still have free health care and so on. Its a horrible system Now their kids have Tattoos, do Drugs, Steal been caught, slapped on the wrist steal more including from me. They had kids while unmarried and all are on the system. Free everything. Working under the table taking cruises living life with free stuff. Then you go shopping from Thanksgiving to Christmas and you can not walk out of a store without walking into someone ringing a bell staring at you. Next the Section 8 rentals ( do you people even know how this system works) then free food, electric, babysitting money(when they don't even have a job), yes this is true. free phone, and then you find out they have their boyfriend living with them and he's cooking drugs, selling drugs. I have seen this first hand. They don't need to buy their kids toys because others will. $$$$$.
9:38 I agree with you.
I only donate to black lives matter, I know jesse and al will make sure that money goes to where it is needed
I only donate to the Clinton foundation, I know Hillary needs the money for a facelift and psychological counseling
Agree with comments on Salvation Army. Very poor "Army" leadership has driven the local SA into the ground. It is run like a cult - very insular and not up to date with business practices like other non-profits. They don't listen to or promote "outsiders". Hazels and Perdues need to take a hard look at how their support is being used. Local SA is living off its reputation from the 50s and 60s. Wake up people...it isn't the best charity in town anymore.
If you really want to help people, you need to help them change destructive behaviors. Many of these "Christmas charities" are re-enforcing or rewarding bad decisions. What do those receiving the donations learn? NOTHING except others will take care of their children and feed their families. Donors need to find a more meaningful way to "feel good" than supporting double and triple dippers. Your donation money isn't doing what you want.
Very "touchie" subject that does need to be addressed/discussed - thanks Joe.
Freeloading ride does need to stop and those who are able to get to work, need to go to work and provide. Not waiting for a handout or "prey" on others.
Like mentioned earlier, I believe and do recognize monetarily (tip) our LOCAL service community - and our LOCAL kids working while attending LOCAL colleges. Good service always should be recognized and its a shame (OC being a resort retreat) how many vacationers don't recognize good service.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Same here, I give only to friends or family I know need help, it's just another cash cow for non productive system abusers.
There are local businesses that are non profits and the directors have enriched themselves from them by your tax dollars also it's not just charities.
It's not just people without jobs who scam the government. My job offers health insurance but women tell me they don't sign up their kids because the govt covers them for free. Now they have "extra money" to spend on themselves. I don't think that's how it was meant to be!!
It's a great question Joe-thanks for asking it. Yeah, why don't we see the results and or patterns of those who may be taking advantage or abusing these charities.
Use Charity NAvigator to vet a charity you are considering donating to.
At our house:
St. Jude's Childrens' Hosp
Fisher House
Thanks, RH! -BH.
I think a lot of the receiving families have come accustomed to receiving food baskets and gifts for the holiday. Not that they really need them but they're use to getting them as if it's a "normal" thing to take from others, even if they can afford a more humble holiday on their own.
I belong to a small organization and we were going to adopt a family for Christmas one year. We got the name from our local school, mother, father and two kids. We were going to get new winter coats. We asked for sizes all of a sudden there were four or five more people added to the family and they wanted the price tags left in the coats. In other words they were going to return them for the money. So they got a basket of food for the holidays and we didn't get suckered into their scam. I'd rather give locally to someone I know who actually need the help.
I have thought the same thing. We have a holiday handout toy drive at my work and my department stopped participating because these families were requesting things that I think of as semi-luxury like gaming consoles and video games. We find other ways to give.
My fathers family was poor growing up in the 50s - got no handouts and were ashamed. And that sucks to think of children having to be ashamed of their situation. It really does. But none of those six kids grew up to be poor- all eventually were solid middle or upper middle class. Being poor doesn't suck like it used to and you could say that is a good thing. But the pain of being poor is the strongest motivation to become Not Poor.
I had once raised money for a family at my job. We bought all 5 kids gifts and I even bought (out of my pocket)gifts that the kids could give to their mother and grandmother. We shopped, bought and wrapped. The mother when we delivered everything to their house she got upset because there were not enough gifts for her and her mother. That was the last time I raised money for an unknown family. The next year we donated to a family and let them pay their bills and had it over seen by the person/church that knew this family. Christmas is just day (a very special day)but a day. The rest of the year is forgotten till 12/26. All though I have mixed feelings I will still help make some one have a Merry Christmas plus pray that they have a better year. (map)
I'm also conflicted about this touchy subject. Firsthand I saw a cousin of mine get her family on every charity list she could. At the time, this was an intact family with 3 children of their own and later an adopted son who came to them though an abusive brother of the husband. Both the husband and wife worked. They didn't make a lot, but neither have many of us during certain years. It used to irritate me when she would be so giddy about some of the things they were given. The children got a shopping spree one year at a store in the old Salisbury Mall. They took stuff out of that store that was never used. Way beyond any need for Christmas gifts. Anyway, the year my cousin made a comment to me that the adopted son had just gotten his pile of charity Christmas presents and she guessed they would just go out in the shed with the rest, my response ticked her off and she stopped bragging to me. I told her she needed to take her family's name off the lists and stop wasting people's hard earned money. My husband and I raised 3 children, never asked for charity, and never had an unused toy that had to be wasted in a shed because we had no room in the house. I know there are those truly in need, but there is also a lot of waste.
When I was a kid we each got 1 orange,1 apple,1 banana,and 1 grapefruit.That was it,and we were darned happy to get it.
9:25 When I was about 12,(circa 1962) my father actually made me go with the Elks to deliver Christmas basked to the needy. Never forgot that,as those families REALLY needed the help. Like you said mostly seniors.
What do you think Bill Draper????
Damn 6:31 you got real fruit. I got hand me down WAX fruit, with teeth marks. Just kidding. This is a serious topic and we all could use a small smile.🙃
I decided to give to causes that I know are legit and much more close to home- for instance- if someone I know has a pet in need of expensive surgery I will donate directly to the cause. It is the only way I know the money is not going to something else.
It's sad that greed and envy overcome so many people.
It's just like the donation received by all of the cancer donations. For sixty years of my life and with zillions of dollars donations, these organizations collecting money for Cancer should have found a cure for this disease by now. Charities in todays society greed is a SCAM.
A few years ago our Lions Club chose a few families to help, names were provided by members whom thought they knew the details of the families situation. . One family had two young boys so we bought two bikes and to very nice winter coats. When we arrived to deliver the goods their grandmother told us that they gone to Disney World for Christmas vacation. No doubt this does not happen all the time but these people did live and look as if they needed help.
I feel the same as the person bringing up this subject it needs to be brought up. We need to stop giving out to every organization requesting $ there is no accountability. Id did for years @ church the Angel Tree Christmas. Let me tell you first hand the families of the children got more and more demanding telling us what to buy and their were not items that I could afford, and never a thank you. There should be committees who review the giving and the needs to see that they match, keep records. It also is a pain every store you go in now their collecting for this or that at the registers. It used to be at your job jars for $ if you so wished not the way currently being done, it has made me not want to donate, give to one organization once a year to a church or school where they really know who the needy are.
I knew a neighbor who worked at the Salvation Army she always told us that the employees got first pick of everything and the truck drivers drove to their homes first so as to get their pick. After two years of being a member I could not even get to speak to the majors in charge or get any answers to questions about their Sunday services I would leave messages and ask them to speak to me they never had a moment and never returned the calls done!
I myself, have wondered how / & where all
the money goes AND especially with them
getting money up to Christmas EVE.
I believe they should be telling us how
they decide who is qualified to receive
and how the money is distributed out &
how much is spend on each child.
I don't donate but rather find a family I
KNOW is needy & help them out. I think it's
wonderful to help others----as long as those
who donate---KNOW exactly how their money is
spent.
Bob Pinto is still alive?
For years, I have not given to charities, because I just don't trust, and don't know enough, about where all the money that gets collected goes. If I knew more about where my donation would be going, I would have no problem giving. I really feel that there is way too much money that all of these organizations are getting.
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