Saw this and thought of you guys!
 

I have seen so many negative things about the Red Cross here, and I could never understand it.

People were always going on about charging for coffee....

Love NPR- saw this story. Thought of you guys!
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/...paign=20120716

I would not give the Red Cross one penny! Twice I contacted them regarding house fires. Once in WV, Trailer fire near Christmastime in Mid 60's.. Was recovering from a bad automobile wreck. car skidded on ice and ended up way down the Mountain. Don't know how I ever got out of it....A wreck and a fire within 3 weeks of each other, Oh, was let go from my job too at the local radio station because of the wreck. No help from RC.... Again, in Florida a house fire, I was offered a Motel room for FOUR hours!! And would have had to walk miles to get there.. No thanks Red Cross!! Nothing from this person. In both incidents, I needed just a little help. I managed, and with the help of a favorite Uncle..got OUT of WV... I thought God was giving me a Message! I was a single (divorced) young Mother with two small children, (6 and 3).. Was stronger than even I thought. No car, no home, no job, no help. Went to Nashville, worked two jobs. We can manage, can't we.

quite an interesting article. The comments are a good read as well. Thanks.

OMG janegb....yes you are a very strong women..it is said that we are never given more than we can handle..you were tested and you passed....good for you. Everyone of us have the strength to survive when we need to too.

I fill blessed, I have never had a need for the RC or any other company and I truly hope that I don't every need them.

Wow..I have never heard this story about the RC...interesting.

yes quite interesting story. yes we can manage. we have to. thanks for sharing

They charge firefighters also.
I only give to the Salvation Army and the Saint Judes Childrens Hospital.

My dad is a WW2 veteran and hates the Red Cross. It was many years ago but when he talks about them the veins in his head almost pop out.

While reading the comments, I do remember some talk about missing 9/11 funds and other issues around that time. I never give to the Red Cross.

2 years ago when our house burnt...the RC was there before the fire trucks even left...they gave hubby and I both a debit card for $100 each...and gave us 3 nights at the local hotel....AND they gave us a voucher for a free refridgerator when we were ready for it...(kitchen fire)...so I can not say enough good things about our local RC !!!! They helped us when we needed it the most !!!!

Very interesting! Thanks! Everybody has different experiences.

My co-workers house burned to the ground. They had 2 small children. The RC put them up in a motel.....then they sent them a bill for the motel charges!

I guess it depends on which RC you have around. Although I haven't had personal experience with them. I am leery of most big charities like this. Most of the monies donated go to administration costs then helping anyone in true need.

As for NPR, I wouldn't let my cat listen to that...lol

Dang!!!
What a blow to an already bad event.

I've only had good experiences with the Red Cross. After the hurricanes came they were there with ice, water, hot meals, showers and more. No charge for anything. This was twice in my area within 2 weeks!
No complaints from me.

The Red Cross taught me First Aid, Swimming and Water Safety and Jr and Sr. Lifesaving, as well as CPR through courses it offered. My skills and knowledge have been greatly expanded by them, much to my benefit. Maybe their assistance to people in need varies with the local chapter and with donations to the local groups, but I have to put in a good word for what they have done for me in the past.

My dad was the very same way... & this was a man who we joking said made Mr. Rogers look like a thug, so for something to make him so steamed, it must've been bad!!!

My uncle (survivor of Pearl Harbor) was the same way! He was a very soft spoken, quiet man, but if anybody mentioned the American Red Cross, he would say words that made your hair curl!!!

My father-in-law died and we had NO money, husband just out of boot camp, poor we were, Red Cross would not loan him the money to go to the funeral, BUT the NAVY RELIEF did, and for 20 yrs. my husband would donate to Navy Relief but not to Red Cross. He is still mad at them.

The Red Cross pays very high executive salaries; and the % of donations actually going to charitable works is low among other charities
I never give to them
My money goes to the Salvation Army and the Southern Baptist group.
If you look at news coverage of tragedies in the USA - these are the 2 organizations that are there immediately distributing food, clothing etc.

Maybe it depends on which chapter of the Red Cross that is helping.

About 21yrs. ago I had a fire. Lost everything. The RC contacted me and gave us vouchers for new coats, and linens for the whole house. I can't say anything negative about them.

That is sort of an insulting thing to say. It may not be your thing, but other people like it.

And to all the posters who are saying the veterans in their family hate the RC because they charged for coffee and donuts, please READ the article, the US Army Dept. MADE them charge. They did NOT want to charge.

my father was in the navy during ww2. he had a bad ecperience, wouldn't tell us what, but told us growing up that the red cross was worthless. I wont give to them, mostly because their overhead is higher than other charities I favor.

My dad was in the navy during ww2 too, and he hated the RC. I can't remember exactly why, but he would get livid when they were mentioned. He would give to SA, but never a dime to RC.

[QUOTE=noveltyjunkie;5370749]I have seen so many negative things about the Red Cross here, and I could never understand it.

People were always going on about charging for coffee....
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I heard that too, when I was on the local board of the American Red Cross. I heard it from my dear brother-in-law, who remained bitter all his life. But when I was taking night calls, I could access military phone lines, and I could get anyone home from anywhere in the world, and I could get it with no cost to the ones I brought home. But that simple doughnut thing has cost the Red Cross a hideous sum, and continues to do so to this very day. The Red Cross did NOT want to charge for it, but political pressure was strong then as now. But...the memory lingers on. I read once that people will not remember quite what you said. They will not remember just exactly what you did, but they most certainly WILL remember how you made them feel. And the Red Cross made our own GIs feel badly..like second class citizens my BIL said. I'm afraid that will live in their memories as long as they see the light of day.

RC has been a bad word in our family for years. My dad in world war 2, said they didn't do anything for the soliders. He was a POW and never got help from RC.

When my husband was in the service in the 60's, we had a problem with his pay. He went to the RC until the pay issue could be solved (they said by next payday). RC said no, even though the correction would be done within a month. They said we had no way to pay them back. We just needed the money for our rent. I would not give even a penny to the RC. Thanks goodness for my in laws, they helped us.

When our first home flooded 17 years ago, the Red Cross came by twice a day. Sandwiches for lunch, hot meals for dinner. Even brought prior days leftover sandwiches for the dogs. Whe our second home flooded 5 years ago, they gave us a thousand dollar gift card to pay for bedding and mattresses. My son who is now 21 called them the neighbors back 17 years ago. To me they were a God-send.

Then look at their stats now. Go check out the salaries of the top administration, where do you think all that money is coming from??? There are way to many stories to the negative side rather than the positive!!

Think of the good they could do with all the money they receive if their execs took the same pay as the Salvation Army execs take. Just do a check of how much of each $ actually goes for the charity work and how much is eaten up by overhead and exec salaries. There is a gov site (I think) that gives this infor on all major charities. United Way is another one that uses way more of the contrbutions for overhead than they use for helping people. It sure changed the way I give my money.

CharityNavigator.org gives out this info. I have a hard time giving to a charity if the CEO's are making over $200K.

My Dad as well, did not like the RC! He never, ever gave them a dime.

My dad would also get very passionate about his dislike of the RC for those same reasons. I found this article very interesting. I've never donated to the RC out of respect for my Dad but this adds new light to the issue. Thanks for the info.

Say we actually believe the story about being made to charge back then.....who is forcing them to do the same thing now? Yes, they still charge for a lot of the "services" they may provide. Not a dime from me will they ever see. I give my money to the Salvation Army. My dad was another one who hated the RC with a passion.

Remember when everyone was saying to give to the Red Cross when Haiti had the earth quake a few years ago? Well, I have heard that they STILL haven't gotten all of the money. And a lot of the people there still live in the tent villages set up right after the quake.
This spring there were several tornados that went through the southern part of Indiana one day. The area was hit hard. A quilt guild gave the RC some quilts to give to the people. The RC only takes $$$$ so they gave them to a thrift shop where the tornado victims could BUY them!!! They should have told the quilt guild to give them to a local church or some other place in the area that would have GIVEN them to the people.
I do not give to the Red Cross, but will give to and ring the bells for the Salvation Army!

When my mother was 3 years old, there was a house fire and everything was lost in the fire. Thanks Goodness everyone survived. My grandfather and uncle needed coats so they could go to work. They were told by the RC that they didn't need coats they were strong men (my uncle was 9 or 10 at the time.) It was hard enough I'm sure for my grandfather to ask for anything. It is something that has NEVER been forgotten. that was in 1944.

How interesting....wasn't aware of most of this. I tend to donate/help small local charities with mostly volunteer workers. I like supporting charities at grassroots level. I have no time for organisations which are too top heavy.

My Money goes to the Salvation Army. Never a dime to the RC.

In high school there was a guy that we all knew that volunteered for Vietnam. His dad and older brother were already there. He got a telegram that his dad and brother were killed and his mother needed him at home , for fear she would be left with no family. The red cross contacted him and paid for his trip home then after the funerals , sent him a bill and said he would be sued if not paid , for over $10,000.00 I've never given a dime to them since then.