A woman shared the troubling details of a Salvation Army shelter she was living in.
Don’t Donate
A woman named Heather Snow shared an explosive thead on her since-deleted Twitter account outlining abuses she claims Salvation Army committed. She was homeless and living in their Portland center.
She began the rant by telling people not to donate anything to the Salvation Army. She then starting going into details.
Thrown Out
She claims the workers are cruel and says she saw domestic violence victims thrown out into the street.
Confiscated and Sold
She claims that people’s possession get confiscated and resold at Salvation Army thrift stores, but that the women never see any of that money.
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No Help
She says that her and others have complained about the treatment to higher-ups, but nothing is ever done.
All About the Money
She says that the sole goal of the Salvation Army is to create revenue for itself instead of actually helping those in need.
Poor Conditions
She then goes on to describe some of the horrible conditions of the center in which she was living.
Back Up
The responses to her stories and allegations are mixed — some say they’ve experienced something similar, while others are defending Salvation Army.
Similar Story
This guy shared his story and it sounds an awful lot like some of the things Heather Snow was alleging.
Sell Your House
This woman says her mother went to a Salvation Army seeking assistance and they were extremely rude and unsympathetic.
They’re Not All Bad
A lot of other people are saying they’ve had great experiences with the Salvation Army and that this one bad center doesn’t mean the whole organization isn’t good.
One Example
Like with most things in life, you can’t judge the whole based on one example. That’s probably what’s going on here.
Where Should I Donatee?
If you’re looking for a place to make donations that will make a difference or actually help the people you’re donating for, it can be tough. The best place to start would be the local level and in your communities.
If you’re looking at a larger group to donate to, head online and look around.
Do Research
The main thing is to do the research, get first-hand accounts, and make sure that the money you donate is actually being used directly for the people affected.
And today, with the internet, it should be easier to look deeper into places where you’re sending your money. It is also easier to be scammed, so this is a step that shouldn’t be avoided.
