I think it is great to help people (in this case Haiti) but I am so afriad to give American Red Cross any money. When I see how much they (red cross) have raised, I am afraid that it will be mis handled like in the past. Does anyone remember how they mishandled the blood and money during 911? Katrina? Isabel?
Also-they are known to have been unfriendly to our troops back in the "day" (I have no idea how they currently treat our military) but they used to charge them for a sandwhich or a drink. Also during local disasters, they are known to do the same to the firemen, police, etc.
So tell me do you agree or not agree?
and why?
Also, who do you trust to give money to?
Cherry Jubilee
Since my local food pantry is really understocked, I'm donating to them instead. They are receiving fewer food donations in these troubled times and now they are receiving less money as people donate to other charities, i.e. Haiti. So I decided my money will go locally. The one charity that I REALLY trust is the Salvation Army, but I don't their plans for Haiti, if any.
Lynda
Cherry Cola
I agree with the "money handling". GREED is such a powerful motivater, even with the best of intentions, with a really large amout of money (especailly The Red Cross) it might be mishandled. The amount raised this time around I believe is well over 10 Mill, I believe. That's just the Red Cross. There are several other organizations raiseing money too. I had not heard of the misstreatment of other rescue personal. If its true,(and it probably is), its truely sad to hear. The other resuce operators are there to help just like the Red Cross! In some cases nothing truley is more important than our armed forces! They're there to move mountains, they have the specialized trianing, and What about all the Medical personal! Without thier health no one can be helped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My only concern with helping the Haitian people is the reports I am hearing that they Hate Americans. I don't understand this response, since we usually lead the way to recovery in most disasters! Where is this overwhelming image ,on the streets of Haiti, of Americans are arrogant coming from? I can't picture Americans to be saying or doing anything cruel in the middle of rescuing anyone! I find it all to be bazzar!
Well thanx for letting say my two sense!
Well thanx for letting say my two sense!
~Janet~
Celebrity Cherry 5/10 , Guest Ct 5/11
Celebrity Cherry 5/10 , Guest Ct 5/11
Digital Designers
I feel weary of donating too. I want to help, but only if i know my help is going to the right place! Some friends and i were just having this same discussion the other day. It's sad and hard and the same time, not knowing what the irght thing is to do!
Bowl Full of Cherries
I sent them my ex-ob/gyn. Really. She and her husband went over to HAiti and are getting ALLLLL this great press here for going over. Yes, this is the same doctor that nearly killed me when I had Mason and is the reason I only have 1 child. She can no longer deliver babies in the state of MD. Ironically (or not) she joined "Doctors without Borders" the year our suit (and 3 others) were filed. Amazing huh? So now the only place she can deliver babies is out of the country, where they do not require insurance, or even a medical license! Yes, it's true! They require no documentation before you weild a scalpel and start cutting on people. They have no "standard of care" over there. I'm so thankful not to live in a 3rd world country. Although, I suspect she might be more careful there, as there is no drive for money as there is here. That was the problem. She was sooo rushed and in such a hurry to get me and her other patients that day (5 babies total deliver by this woman in 1 day) "done" so she could get out of town, that she damaged me badly. She wants to be in HAiti, so good for her. If I lived in Haiti and was ready to push a baby out, I might let her help me too. She'll never touch MY body ever again though, unless it's my knuckle meeting her snide
face.
**rant over** thank you. Edited, because I now think of "Doctors without Borders" as "Doctors without insurance"!!!! and that makes me giggle.
face.
**rant over** thank you. Edited, because I now think of "Doctors without Borders" as "Doctors without insurance"!!!! and that makes me giggle.
I used to be a "celebrity cherry", but now I'm in re-hab...... Holy Carp!
Bowl Full of Cherries
oh, and since that post turned into a rant instead of an answer....I'll answer now.
I donate locally, ONLY. PERIOD. I don't trust the corporate end of these charities, as they say they needed "2 million in administrative costs". Yeah, that 2 million probably went in just a few officers pockets. It gives me the sads.
When I donate, I want a specific benefit to go to a specific person. Charity starts at home. I'd rather help an individual family in Baltimore. OR help a child in Baltimore. I trust me, I don't trust big corporations.
I donate locally, ONLY. PERIOD. I don't trust the corporate end of these charities, as they say they needed "2 million in administrative costs". Yeah, that 2 million probably went in just a few officers pockets. It gives me the sads.
When I donate, I want a specific benefit to go to a specific person. Charity starts at home. I'd rather help an individual family in Baltimore. OR help a child in Baltimore. I trust me, I don't trust big corporations.
I used to be a "celebrity cherry", but now I'm in re-hab...... Holy Carp!
Bowl Full of Cherries
There are plenty of charities set up to help Haiti. I donated to http://clintonbushhaitifund.org/ , the fund set up by presidents Bush and Clinton. Please don't let your mistrust of the Red Cross keep you from giving money if you'd like to do so. Those people are in desparate need of our help.
Although I understand that you would want to give your money to a charity that would put it to good use, I think that focusing on the shortcomings of charities will remove the focus on the massive amount of good that people in the American Red Cross and other organizations are doing. Right now, at this moment, I choose to focus on what good these people are doing and help any way that I can. You will see misuse of funds in many non-profit organizations, and it's a good thing that we call them out on these shorcomings and missteps. People should be held accountable. But as a whole, I feel we should set these concerns aside for the moment when we see so much suffering to think about ways to help.
As for anti-American opinions. There is anti-American sentiment everywhere, including here in the U.S. In my opinion, it's an irrelevant issue when it comes to Haiti.
Although I don't believe in God, I was raised in a Christian household, and I was always taught to help others, even when they may not be thankful or have negative opinions of those that are different than they are.
When I was a child, my mother and I saw a homeless man asking for money. He was obviously mentally ill, cursing and pacing back and forth. My mother gave him a dollar, and he called her a b!tch. I asked her if she was upset or if she regretted her decision. She then gave me another dollar, and had me go back and give it to him.
Although I understand that you would want to give your money to a charity that would put it to good use, I think that focusing on the shortcomings of charities will remove the focus on the massive amount of good that people in the American Red Cross and other organizations are doing. Right now, at this moment, I choose to focus on what good these people are doing and help any way that I can. You will see misuse of funds in many non-profit organizations, and it's a good thing that we call them out on these shorcomings and missteps. People should be held accountable. But as a whole, I feel we should set these concerns aside for the moment when we see so much suffering to think about ways to help.
As for anti-American opinions. There is anti-American sentiment everywhere, including here in the U.S. In my opinion, it's an irrelevant issue when it comes to Haiti.
Although I don't believe in God, I was raised in a Christian household, and I was always taught to help others, even when they may not be thankful or have negative opinions of those that are different than they are.
When I was a child, my mother and I saw a homeless man asking for money. He was obviously mentally ill, cursing and pacing back and forth. My mother gave him a dollar, and he called her a b!tch. I asked her if she was upset or if she regretted her decision. She then gave me another dollar, and had me go back and give it to him.
Leslie
Cherry Bing
Leslie, you nailed it 110% on the head. While I also understand the mistrust, it can't be allowed to jade our hearts. And kudos to your mom.
Chrissy
Cherry Jubilee
I agree with Leslie. Help is required. Yes, there will always be someone trying to take advantage of the situaton and line their own profits and you can never be sure it will all go where it is required. There are lots of organisations raising money that you can choose from. We're donating through Compassion who have been working locally with the children for many, many years. And yes, rightly or wrongly there is a lot of Anti-American feling all over the world, mainly arising I believe from operations to control or 'help' situations in other countires. Not for the actual help but from the attitude that they're the only ones who can solve everyone else's problems.
Anyway, if you give, it should be from the heart and whilst thankyous are nice they're really irrelevant.
Anyway, if you give, it should be from the heart and whilst thankyous are nice they're really irrelevant.
Bowl Full of Cherries
I guess I shouldn't be so jade, but I am just so *&^)*&% about my ex-dr getting all this press that it's clouding my judgement.
I used to be a "celebrity cherry", but now I'm in re-hab...... Holy Carp!
Cherry Crush
I agree that help is needed, just as Leslie said. You can't look at those images and not be moved - at least I can't. However, I will only give at the local level and my opinion of The Red Cross was soured forever after Hurricane Katrina.
After Hurricane Katrina, our local TV stations were announcing all of the locations that The Red Cross would be collecting donations. They showed image after image of all those people in the stadium and reiterated many times those people were in desperate need of diapers, underwear, clothing and water.
I immediately went into my basement and took out 4 large plastic totes that were filled with my son's infant and toddler clothes. There were shirts, pj's, jeans, shorts, underwear, socks - you name it, it was in there. I loaded up the car, stopped at Sam's purchased 4 of the gigantic boxes of diapers and headed over to the collection site - only to be told they wanted cash only. They told me that the logistics of laundering my clothes (yeah, I'm sure whatever filth may have been on my clothes was surely more risky that the waste these poor people were stuck in) and distributing them would cause a delay. They wanted the cash so that local entites could go out and purchase THESE SAME EXACT ITEMS THEMSELVES!!! After that, I was finished with The Red Cross.
As far as this latest interational disaster, my local tv station hosted an event by Med Wish where they collected medical supplies and baby supplies to deliver to Haiti. They of course will take cash, but they prefer donations of needed items. I took over 23 bottles of Hydrogen Peroxide (which cost virtually nothing at Target - .48 a bottle), 20 boxes of band-aids, all the bags of cotton balls Target had - I think 13, and a case of cans of powdered infant formula. (They preferred powder, but I'm worried about the water situation. I guess they want powder because it makes more?) I also gave them a small cash donation. I feel good about what I did.
After Hurricane Katrina, our local TV stations were announcing all of the locations that The Red Cross would be collecting donations. They showed image after image of all those people in the stadium and reiterated many times those people were in desperate need of diapers, underwear, clothing and water.
I immediately went into my basement and took out 4 large plastic totes that were filled with my son's infant and toddler clothes. There were shirts, pj's, jeans, shorts, underwear, socks - you name it, it was in there. I loaded up the car, stopped at Sam's purchased 4 of the gigantic boxes of diapers and headed over to the collection site - only to be told they wanted cash only. They told me that the logistics of laundering my clothes (yeah, I'm sure whatever filth may have been on my clothes was surely more risky that the waste these poor people were stuck in) and distributing them would cause a delay. They wanted the cash so that local entites could go out and purchase THESE SAME EXACT ITEMS THEMSELVES!!! After that, I was finished with The Red Cross.
As far as this latest interational disaster, my local tv station hosted an event by Med Wish where they collected medical supplies and baby supplies to deliver to Haiti. They of course will take cash, but they prefer donations of needed items. I took over 23 bottles of Hydrogen Peroxide (which cost virtually nothing at Target - .48 a bottle), 20 boxes of band-aids, all the bags of cotton balls Target had - I think 13, and a case of cans of powdered infant formula. (They preferred powder, but I'm worried about the water situation. I guess they want powder because it makes more?) I also gave them a small cash donation. I feel good about what I did.
OCD is not an adjective. It is not a personality quirk. It is not synonymous with being organized. It is a complex and debilitating mental health illness that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and is defined by the presence of unwanted, intrusive thoughts and repetitive actions. 
I am an OCD warrior and I fight for my son.
I am an OCD warrior and I fight for my son. 
Chocolate Covered Cherry
Yes, I remember the fiasco w/the Red Cross and am shocked that so many others don't - especially every time I see that tv ad w/the First Lady asking people to donate to them!! Not I, thankyouverymuch.
I also hate when charities waste money on fund drives. Several years ago at my old job the CEO had me send a letter to all of our charities stating that we would monitor mailings (and "free gifts") and prioritize our giving to those that gave it where needed. It was truly amazing to keep track of what we got from whom! Several charities for whom I used to have great respect destroyed that by sending multiple mailings per month, some pre-stamped (not the "postage paid" imprint, for which they only pay when it's used, but actual, physical stamps!). He also liked to give locally and to groups that don't have celebs promoting them. (I agree, and will donate to local Habitat for Humanity chapters or our local Humane Society but not to either national group any more.)
There are websites where you can see what percentage of a charity's income goes to overhead and such. I don't remember the name off the top of my head but Google should be able to help anyone who's looking.
We give through our church (Evangelical Covenant) to Covenant World Relief, at least if it's in a country where they already have a presence established (and since we're a very missions-based denomination that's a lot of places!). A friend sent me info on a Lutheran mission organization that works similarly, and with both I believe 100% of donations go directly to the needy.
I was also reading recently how so many people are sending packages of useless items (winter coats, high heeled shoes) or just showing up to help, both of which actually cost the country and relief organizations much more than they help. So if you do want to do something, please donate finances. For example they said if someone ships them a bottle of water it costs more to disperse it than the gift itself, whereas if someone donates, they can in a sense multiply the donation by buying in bulk and through the best channels for proper distribution.
eta: Laura, I wrote this before I saw your post! I'm sure your clothing items were clean but you must understand they need policies in place because not everyone's would be, and they don't have time to evaluate every item individually. Also things like medical supplies are different if they are specifically requested by groups already working there; that's a great way to help! But, it is definitely true that they can often purchase some items for less than we could with the same amount of money (from buying in bulk, and buying where the cost of living is a lot less).
I also hate when charities waste money on fund drives. Several years ago at my old job the CEO had me send a letter to all of our charities stating that we would monitor mailings (and "free gifts") and prioritize our giving to those that gave it where needed. It was truly amazing to keep track of what we got from whom! Several charities for whom I used to have great respect destroyed that by sending multiple mailings per month, some pre-stamped (not the "postage paid" imprint, for which they only pay when it's used, but actual, physical stamps!). He also liked to give locally and to groups that don't have celebs promoting them. (I agree, and will donate to local Habitat for Humanity chapters or our local Humane Society but not to either national group any more.)
There are websites where you can see what percentage of a charity's income goes to overhead and such. I don't remember the name off the top of my head but Google should be able to help anyone who's looking.
We give through our church (Evangelical Covenant) to Covenant World Relief, at least if it's in a country where they already have a presence established (and since we're a very missions-based denomination that's a lot of places!). A friend sent me info on a Lutheran mission organization that works similarly, and with both I believe 100% of donations go directly to the needy.
I was also reading recently how so many people are sending packages of useless items (winter coats, high heeled shoes) or just showing up to help, both of which actually cost the country and relief organizations much more than they help. So if you do want to do something, please donate finances. For example they said if someone ships them a bottle of water it costs more to disperse it than the gift itself, whereas if someone donates, they can in a sense multiply the donation by buying in bulk and through the best channels for proper distribution.
eta: Laura, I wrote this before I saw your post! I'm sure your clothing items were clean but you must understand they need policies in place because not everyone's would be, and they don't have time to evaluate every item individually. Also things like medical supplies are different if they are specifically requested by groups already working there; that's a great way to help! But, it is definitely true that they can often purchase some items for less than we could with the same amount of money (from buying in bulk, and buying where the cost of living is a lot less).
Cherry Jubilee
Cec-- oddly enough I thought that was her. Hugs I am sorry....
Leslie-this will not keep me from helping It just re assures me that I will not do it through them. I too plan on giviong to the clinton/bush thing.
I do not believe that giving to them would help, so the fact that they are collecting so much scares me to deeath I do not think that a large majoirty will ever make it to Haiti and those in need.
I agree with laura, that is what angers me about giving to some charities, maybe I don't have money but I have "stuff" that is in new or like new condition.
Keep debating!
Leslie-this will not keep me from helping It just re assures me that I will not do it through them. I too plan on giviong to the clinton/bush thing.
I do not believe that giving to them would help, so the fact that they are collecting so much scares me to deeath I do not think that a large majoirty will ever make it to Haiti and those in need.
I agree with laura, that is what angers me about giving to some charities, maybe I don't have money but I have "stuff" that is in new or like new condition.
Keep debating!
\ 
Cherry Bing
Leslie- while I agree we should not nit pick every charity to death. Realizing who does a good job and who does a poor job of distrubuting the aid will only help the people who need it in the long run.
Honestly, I mostly give locally. We live in Air Force pay and don't have much to give anyway. I donate mostly to foodbanks and Catholic Charities.
While I reconize the great need the people of Haiti have I drive a buy a man every day that has no home, no food, no coat, and badly worn shoes. While I do not think any one is entitled to some thing more than some one else because of what country they are from I don't have a lot to send to Haiti, but I do have an extra blanket for this man and can buy him a cheeseburger once and a while.
Honestly, I mostly give locally. We live in Air Force pay and don't have much to give anyway. I donate mostly to foodbanks and Catholic Charities.
While I reconize the great need the people of Haiti have I drive a buy a man every day that has no home, no food, no coat, and badly worn shoes. While I do not think any one is entitled to some thing more than some one else because of what country they are from I don't have a lot to send to Haiti, but I do have an extra blanket for this man and can buy him a cheeseburger once and a while.
Find my books here. See the mom (crafting, cooking, organizing, and homeschooling) side of me here. {Under construction}
Cherry Jubilee
Very well said Leslie & I personally thank you for it.
I donated through UNICEF because any child no matter what part of the world they may be from, does not deserve to suffer. Through Red Cross I donate blood regularly. I have no doubt that corruption & greed will exist in all organizations profit or non-profit to some extend but I don't let that stop me from doing my part.
I donated through UNICEF because any child no matter what part of the world they may be from, does not deserve to suffer. Through Red Cross I donate blood regularly. I have no doubt that corruption & greed will exist in all organizations profit or non-profit to some extend but I don't let that stop me from doing my part.
Cherry Jubilee
I just want to add for those of you that do not have the $$ to give another option is shoes your kids might have outgrown or that you just don't wear anymore & that are in decent condition. You can drop the shoes off at Sports Chalet's or check out the link http://www.soles4souls.org/
Cherry Jubilee
SBcrazee wrote:Very well said Leslie & I personally thank you for it.
I donated through UNICEF because any child no matter what part of the world they may be from, does not deserve to suffer. Through Red Cross I donate blood regularly. I have no doubt that corruption & greed will exist in all organizations profit or non-profit to some extend but I don't let that stop me from doing my part.
I agree with no child, no matter where deserves to suffer. I just think that it IS important to give to a charity that is known to re distribute it properly and not to one that has been in trouble for keeping the money. I give locally and I give for disasters like this. I also think we need to give to the people in CA right now but not through the red cross. I guess what I am saying is that if we continue to give to the wrong charities, then the money that we worked so hard dor to give away is wasted. Does this make sense? maybe I am not saying it right....
\ 
Cherry Addict
I prefer the Salvation Army over the Red Cross.
Queen Mum - Grammy to Princess Bump (Lisa Giann) and Princess Bean (Gia Bella)
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