Community Chat

[Hippiified]

Sxxx happens. That doesn’t mean that everyone is bad.

[Cakers3]

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@bathina wrote:

@Cakers3 I 've actually run the United Way donation drive at my place of employement for the last several years. Our United Way's operating costs are strictly funded by a trust fund. None of the donated monies go to provide salaries or light and heat in their buildings. I've also volunteered with many local United Way funded organizations- one being a charity that provides lunches and off-school study help during the summer. The United Way does a lot of good work.

One thing I like best about UW workplace giving is that you can choose to wirte in your favorite charity and the UW will allocate a year's lump sum to that charity on your behalf. I always support my local animal shelter through worplace contributions.

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@bathina  I'm not doubting United Way; certainly good things come from them.

I'm glad your place of employment is working out just fine.  Most are.

But some did have problems; as I said no organization is run 100% smoothly.  Especially since each chapter is designating for local chapters such as Big Brothers/Big SIsters, Red Cross, etc.  and also for organizations that are not national but local, such as a local children's protection agency.

As I said, when some ugly raises its head in any organization, people tend to turn away.  One bad apple doesn't always spoil the whole bunch, if you will.  But it does make a person take a second look.

[Cakers3]

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@shortbreadlover wrote:

i know a homeless guy(he comes into the library everday) who panhandles with a sign that says he is a homeless father and needs help.  i know for a fact, he is not a father and he likes being homelss. he calls it his job

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@shortbreadlover  If you know "for a fact" that this man is not a father then you must know him on a personal level.

If you know "for a fact" that he likes being homeless and calls it his job, then you must know him on a personal level.

Do you know his name?  Where he "camps"? 

Are you comfortable calling authorities to have him removed?  If not, then what he is and what he does really isn't your concern. You don't have to give him one penny.

[SahmIam]

I have a love-hate relationship with the United Way. I despise the 'You MUST DONATE" tactic that so many companies forced down the throat of it's employees (including mine) during the United Way campaigns. I refused to participate and it didn't go over well. Eventually I moved out of the world where this happened and never looked back.

The ironic thing is I moved into a sector that depends almost 100% on the United Way. In my county (and in many others), our local Domestic Violence Centers, safe houses and support systems (legal and psychological included) are possible due to the United Way. Private donations and fund raising covers the rest. When donations were down, services would have to be cut; when up, more could be added. In the end, the survivors and their children are the ones that paid the price.

The moment negative press comes out about the United Way, we knew what would happen....and it always did. : (

[missy1]

I knew that when it was first  came out.

[bonnielu]

We give to charity.  But we do not give to people on the street.  Seems most of  it is a setup since we have very active local places and agencies that provide food,clothing and housing.  I am always suspicious.  Money could go for drugs or money could be just an hourly rate that is better than those actually working for a living.  

[Lindsays Grandma]

It is terribly sad when dishonest people dupe those who want to sincerely help the needy.  As a result people become hesitant to donate money again and the needy are the ones who suffer.  It has been mentioned that law enforcement should keep in mind that the homeless man is a veteran.  Perhaps a shelter where he can be cured of his addiction and kept off the streets will help him to eventually have a normal life.  I would hope so.

The following has nothing to do with the above subject matter:   Many people donate to the Red Cross, The American Heart Association, etc.  I worked as a secretary to the division head of the AHA at a one of their offices in the San Fernando Valley in CA. many years ago.  Donations were mailed to our location daily, many specified where they wanted their money to go to.  I personally deposited the checks in the bank which told me the  money was divided and spent as the organization saw fit.  There was a head office and many smaller offices scattered throughout Los Angeles.  Lots of employees were being paid salaries while rents were being paid for the facilities they worked in.  It always bothered me that the people who wanted their money to go to research or for children, or whatever, had no idea it wasn't happening.  All I can say is, be careful who you donate your money to, and if possible find out how they divide the proceeds.