@Sunshine Kate wrote:
@cjm61 wrote:
I think your comment @Sooner "Yes, I understand it is nothing new" is correct. This is not new. I know many people believe in the Red Cross but they are not as upstanding as some believe.
Years ago, around 40-50 years ago, my dad was a firefighter. He was on the fireline in the forest working hard and exhausted. The American Red Cross approached him asking if he needed anything. He asked only for chapstick. They handed it to him and asked him to pay the full retail amount. These were all donated. Hearing this from so long ago gives me a bad taste for charities.
@cjm61
I believe completely what you said when your dad asked for chapstick from the American Red Cross.
It reminds me the story my dad told when he came home from WWII. (I wasn't born yet).
The American Red Cross greeted the military for coming home from the war as it was over. They asked my dad as well as the other guys if they wanted anything.
My dad and others asked for a cup of coffee. The Red Cross brought them a cup of coffee, but they had to pay .35 first. No one had any money whatsoever on them. They did not get a cup of coffee!!
Struck my dad the wrong way and would not donate to that particular charity.
@Sunshine Kate @cjm61 I found these documents online. I too heard from my mom and dad and others over the years about Red Cross or Salvation Army. My Dad was WWII AF and was stationed in England. Maybe that was it. The British Red Cross did sell to their soldiers ! They couldn't afford to give to their soldiers. I don't know about the chapstick though, as this happened after war. Maybe it was a concession stand thing? . Seems a little cheap not to give a firefighter a chapstick though. Here is article
The following is compiled from several documents.
Coffee & Doughnuts
Questions continue to surface periodically about the fact that the Red Cross—
whose service to the armed forces have always been free—sold some doughnuts
and coffee during World War II. This was done at the request of the US
government while in Britain. Problems were arising because the British Red Cross
needed to charge its own troops for refreshments in order to survive financially.
The same situation began to occur in 1942 to other British agencies that were
providing refreshments. But the American Red Cross continued to provide the
refreshments for free. United States Secretary of War Henry Stinson applauded
the American Red Cross’ policy, but noted that the American troops were the best
paid among the Allies and thus could afford to pay. Under Stinson’s order the
American Red Cross began to ask for a nominal charge for coffee and doughnuts
from those troops not on the front lines. Front line troops were never asked to
pay for Red Cross refreshments. Please note that the American Red Cross
personnel are sent overseas at the request of the US military.
The Red Cross charged for food, lodging, barber and valet services in stationary
installations but did not charge in mobile facilities. (clubmobiles, etc.)
The Red Cross did NOT sell cigarettes. The sale of cigarettes is a violation of Red
Cross policy and the Bureau of Internal Revenue regulations. There were
instances, however, in which servicemen paid for tax-exempt cigarettes carrying
the name of the Red Cross. Such a situation may have come about through
confusion of Red Cross supplies with army post exchange supplies.
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