Oklahoma Tornado Relief Donation:Salvation Army vs Red Cross

[66GTO]

For those considering making a donation to help those folks in Oklahoma who were hit by the devasting tornados, may I make a suggestion and relate my personal experiences.

I just sent a modest amount to the Salvation Army designated for the Tornado Relief Fund. The specific web site they have for this purpose has crashed from so much traffic that I had to access the donation page through their main web page. I take this as a good sign.

Living in Florida all of my life, I have first hand experience with disaster relief after hurricanes have hit our community. The quickest response has always been by the Salvation Army and the National Guard. The Red Cross gets all of the national publicity, but they show up a couple of weeks after the disaster, about the same time as FEMA. That is not a coincidence, since they have effectively become a quasi governmental agency with all of the efficiency of the DMV or Post Office.

The Salvation Army will form affiliations with local churches and typically will have aid stations set up within 2 or 3 days preparing hot meals, handing out water and ICE! And believe me, the most important commodity after a storm knocks out all power for weeks is ICE. They help arrange shelter and basic medical care, help locate and contact relatives, and many other services needed after a disaster. After Hurricane Ivan hit our area in 2003 I saw the Salvaltion Army set up at a local church with a mobile kitchen serving hot meals, dispensing water, ice, and clothes within 48 hours. Local churches are the perfect resource in disaster relief because they are an invaluable source of local knowledge and a reliable source of volunteers.

In contrast, it was two weeks before the Red Cross showed up and then it was to hand out mops, brooms, and clean up supplies. They always get promoted on the national media as the place to send donations and have a huge PR machine set up to get face time on television. However, in my experience, they are the last organization to offer actual assistance. You may have a different take on this, but this is my experience.

As far as the National Guard is concerned, here in Florida they almost always show up within 24 hours to act as security and to offer emergency assistance and rescue. They also handed out MRE's to folks who needed them after Ivan. My hat is off to them, the true citizen soldiers and militia, as classically defined.

I would encourage anyone who is inclined to offer financial assistance to the tornado victims to donate to the Salvation Army and find out which churches in your local area are planning relief efforts. I know several churches in my local area organize volunteer crews to deliver supplies and offer debris removal and cleanup assistance to other states who suffer from storm damage. One of the best at this is the LDS church (Mormon).

[TedH]

I tend to agree.

I also read this quote from Jim Scoutten today,

"If you wish to donate to help the victims of the Oklahoma Tornados, allow me to suggest the charity (Salvation Army) that spends ALL the money raised on disaster relief, unlike the more prominent charity that uses every disaster to fund their organization."

[Blaine]

+1 I feel confident that The Salvation Army will give the most bang for the buck....

[44-40 Willy]

I've got personal experience with both organizations and donate to the Salvation Army often. When I was in need, they helped my family immensely and asked nothing in return. After the Red Cross was trying to charge folks for assistance rendered in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo in South Carolina, I won't give them a cent.

[Eye-Bite!]

We all remember Hurricane Katrina and the Red Cross buying computers with the donated money. From my personal experience with the RC.... Not worth my time to have a conversation with them. Salvation Army is the only way to go!

[sore shoulder]

After seeing Red Cross in "action" and the reports I get from others, I would NEVER give a red cent to that organization. I donate continually to Salvation Army which is by far the most worthy charity I know of. Red Cross is very good at being visible and promoting themselves, and very good at looking busy doing nothing in disaster areas. I've watched them spend days in a row doing nothing but driving around in their fleet of diesel powered RV/van things while Salvation Army canvassed door to door and set up and served food. My contempt for Red Cross became so bad I started refusing their handouts of beef jerky and soda every time they came through my check point and barely acknowledged them. I watched other charities delivering boxes of supplies and tools to disaster victims, meanwhile sometimes Red Cross would take an opportune moment to hand out a trash bag and a grass rake if they thought cameras were nearby. They really disgusted me to the point I will bash them every chance I get.

[Pete44ru]

.

FWIW, I've regularly donated to the SA over the past 40 years (not just because it's tax-deductible), having personally seen how they help folks get back on their feet, disaster or not.

I had a friend that had to live/work @ SA for a few years, some time ago - they gave him food, shelter & a job.




.

[Rusty]

I've always tried to keep my comments to myself on this mater but since it has come up I too have experiences. When my dad was shipping out to go overseas during WWII he was on the docks in Oakland, CA getting ready to ship out and there was the Red Cross SELLING coffee and donuts to the troops. A hundred yards down the dock was the Salvation Army GIVING away coffee and donuts.

Several years ago a certain ham radio operator had gone to S. Fla to help provide radio communications after hurricane Andrew hit. After a straight 14 hours handling traffic this ham took a break to get some coffee and something to eat at a nearby Red Cross trailer, Only to find out they were selling coffee and sandwiches.

That's all I have to say about that.

[Bill in Oregon]

Everyone here is spot on. The Red Cross got dreadful reviews of its response to Sandy, while the Salvation Army got there immediately, with relief that people desperately needed. I think a big part of it is that the Salvation Army runs on God power -- the best there is. Thank you for reminding me to help out!

[horsesoldier03]

I have no experience with any of the hurricanes or tornado disasters. However, I can state, while in the military and completing 3 deployments, the RED CROSS was at each deployment. During both the deployment and redeployment phases, RED CROSS was there providing water, Kool-Aid, coffee, cookies and other home baked goods, the Salvation Army was not. A donation can is typically in plain view, however, I have never been solicited or required to pay for services or hospitalities. MOST Soldiers always drop a token of appreciation in the can.

My current job is working in an Emergency Operations Center within my community. In the event of a fire, RED CROSS can always be counted on to cover temporary lodging requirements for displaced families. I know they pay other associated cost as well, but I only associated in assisting with coordination for lodging.

I have no doubt that the Salvation Army is a great organization, I have seen them running several Food Kitchens for the homeless.

[BobM]

Interesting. My wife's grandfather was in Europe during WWII and to this day has no use for the Red Cross. My father in law was a police officer near where I live now and went to Xenia to help out after the tornado of 1974. He also has no use for the Red Cross but I've not heard either one go into detail.
Locally the RC does respond to residential fire scenes and from my understanding helps out with shelter/clothing, etc.

[Hobie]

Once upon a time the ARC had a great rep. Not so much anymore, at least not with those who actually have to deal with them.

We donated for Katrina. Twice. We didn't expect to donate twice, especially for that amount... No satisfaction from the ARC. Never again.

The Salvation Army will provide the services these people will need.

[Old Ironsights]

FWIW, Glen Beck's "Mercury One" showed up with a couple of semi-trailers of relief within hours... (he had the trucks loaded and out the door by 8pm Mon nite...) And is verifiably putting 100% of donations into relief.

[Barcelona Rick]

My dad was an aircrew member (top turret gunner) on a B 24 Bomber during WWII....he was shot down and very badly wounded....spent a day or two floating in a raft with 3 other crewmen.....he finally ended up at Drew Field Hospital (I think) in Tampa. He told me that the Red Cross would come around passing out cigarettes that were marked "Donated by the citizens of......" Dad told me that when he was finally discharged from the hospital that he received a "bill" for the smokes he took.....he protested that he thought they were donated by different citizens.....the Red Cross told him that they had admin costs to cover.....he paid and supported the Salvation Army every year until he passed away in 1996....while in the Navy during Vietnam I had to be shipped home for emergency leave....I needed a one week extension which went thru the Red Cross in those days....well at zero hour I headed to the local Naval Reserve Station to report for duty because my extension had not been received.....turns out my command had approved my request within 24 hours but the paperwork was somehow held up at the Red Cross....maybe a freak occurance......maybe not.....

rick

[Charles]

I've always tried to keep my comments to myself on this mater but since it has come up I too have experiences. When my dad was shipping out to go overseas during WWII he was on the docks in Oakland, CA getting ready to ship out and there was the Red Cross SELLING coffee and donuts to the troops. A hundred yards down the dock was the Salvation Army GIVING away coffee and donuts.

My Father-in-Law (now deceased) was a Marine (Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima) and told the exact same story and had zero use for the Red Cross after that.

[Ji in Hawaii]

Red Cross got a BIG black eye during relief efforts for the Japan tsunami victims a large percentage of monies never reaching the victims in need.

[redlevel42]

Red Cross will often publish a report that they distributed X number of meals during a disaster. They do distribute the meals in many cases, but the entities that prepare and pay for the meals are the Salvation Army and The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief program. I saw one source that said that 95% of the meals distributed by RC were prepared by SBDR. There are still SBDR teams helping clean up from the Sandy storm. SBDR teams are now on-site at Moore. The only charities I give to are SBDR and Salvation Army. I am a 6th generation Deacon in a small Southern Baptist Church in South Georgia. We have probably sent $20,000 or more to SBDR over the last five years. That is in addition to our regular support of Southern Baptist North American Missions and World Missions. We have about 50 members in attendance each Sunday.

Preparing and serving hot meals, maintaining shower stations for first responders, and sending in chain saw crews are probably the things SBDR is most known for. They also provide spiritual and grief counseling.

[Eye-Bite!]

My dad was an aircrew member (top turret gunner) on a B 24 Bomber during WWII....he was shot down and very badly wounded....spent a day or two floating in a raft with 3 other crewmen.....he finally ended up at Drew Field Hospital (I think) in Tampa. He told me that the Red Cross would come around passing out cigarettes that were marked "Donated by the citizens of......" Dad told me that when he was finally discharged from the hospital that he received a "bill" for the smokes he took.....he protested that he thought they were donated by different citizens.....the Red Cross told him that they had admin costs to cover.....he paid and supported the Salvation Army every year until he passed away in 1996....while in the Navy during Vietnam I had to be shipped home for emergency leave....I needed a one week extension which went thru the Red Cross in those days....well at zero hour I headed to the local Naval Reserve Station to report for duty because my extension had not been received.....turns out my command had approved my request within 24 hours but the paperwork was somehow held up at the Red Cross....maybe a freak occurance......maybe not.....

rick

(Hat off for your dad and a Salute here to him) While a Firefighter at a Military base... we finally got the "BIG ONE" fought it for three days and lived in the cab of my truck. RC came buy and charged me for a cold box lunch! Eat or starve it was. Another time I got called home on Emergency leave.... I had 6-7 messages from the RC handed toi me by my boss and they all say to call the RC because it was an Emergency! Man, I called and the message was: When are you going to pay back your $200 loan that got you home. What a bunch of BS.... Never looked at them again in the same light.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

After living here on the Gulf Cost and dealing with the Hurricanes I can tell you with out a doubt folks here see the Red Cross as predators making profit on the folks misery. The Salvation Army and National guard are the god sent angels for sure.

[Rusty]

Red Cross will often publish a report that they distributed X number of meals during a disaster. They do distribute the meals in many cases, but the entities that prepare and pay for the meals are the Salvation Army and The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief program. I saw one source that said that 95% of the meals distributed by RC were prepared by SBDR. There are still SBDR teams helping clean up from the Sandy storm. SBDR teams are now on-site at Moore. The only charities I give to are SBDR and Salvation Army. I am a 6th generation Deacon in a small Southern Baptist Church in South Georgia. We have probably sent $20,000 or more to SBDR over the last five years. That is in addition to our regular support of Southern Baptist North American Missions and World Missions. We have about 50 members in attendance each Sunday.

Preparing and serving hot meals, maintaining shower stations for first responders, and sending in chain saw crews are probably the things SBDR is most known for. They also provide spiritual and grief counseling.

Well Redlevel I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the efforts you folks put forth. Several years ago I was hauling groceries into an area hit on the Fla. east coast when I came across one of your set ups. It was a trailer built with doors all down the side of it and steps going up to each door. Each door was a shower, so folks without any facilities could have a place to get cleaned up. I gotta tell ya, that brought tears to my eyes. Something so simple would mean so much to a lot of people.

[66GTO]

Red Cross will often publish a report that they distributed X number of meals during a disaster. They do distribute the meals in many cases, but the entities that prepare and pay for the meals are the Salvation Army and The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief program. I saw one source that said that 95% of the meals distributed by RC were prepared by SBDR. There are still SBDR teams helping clean up from the Sandy storm. SBDR teams are now on-site at Moore. The only charities I give to are SBDR and Salvation Army. I am a 6th generation Deacon in a small Southern Baptist Church in South Georgia. We have probably sent $20,000 or more to SBDR over the last five years. That is in addition to our regular support of Southern Baptist North American Missions and World Missions. We have about 50 members in attendance each Sunday.

Preparing and serving hot meals, maintaining shower stations for first responders, and sending in chain saw crews are probably the things SBDR is most known for. They also provide spiritual and grief counseling.

Well Redlevel I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the efforts you folks put forth. Several years ago I was hauling groceries into an area hit on the Fla. east coast when I came across one of your set ups. It was a trailer built with doors all down the side of it and steps going up to each door. Each door was a shower, so folks without any facilities could have a place to get cleaned up. I gotta tell ya, that brought tears to my eyes. Something so simple would mean so much to a lot of people.

+1 to that. After Hurricane Ivan the Southern Baptists arrived quickly and set up an aid station at a local Baptist church in conjunction with the Salvation Army. A good friend of mine who belongs to that church also volunteers for disaster relief with the SBDR.

[Eye-Bite!]

Coffee and DHo-Nutts for ThEE and Millions for ME!!!

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/red ... bled=false

[66GTO]

Coffee and DHo-Nutts for ThEE and Millions for ME!!!

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/red ... bled=false

A bureaucracy with all the charm and efficiency of the DMV and Post Office. I wonder how much of that $300,000,000 donanted for Sandy relief paid for executive salaries and perks?