Red Cross Effectiveness Providing Disaster Relief?

[Wagtail]

Around here, the Australian Red Cross is known pretty much only for blood donations... and no, we don't get paid for a pint, just juice & biccies after the fact. I haven't donated in years due first to having had cancer (5 year no donation policy by them) and now because you have to travel to the Big Smoke (Launceston or Hobart) to give blood = no mobile clinics. Their website says they're also for disaster relief but they're not spruiked as such.

The Salvos are the ones who are known for disasters and for supporting the 'troops' and they're the ones who get my cash donations. The Salvos are highly respected by the military and have a reputation (going back to WWI) for being right behind the lines of British & Commonwealth Servicemen/women. That reputation also extends to domestic situations like cyclone/flood/bushfire relief.

The Red Cross's website also says that they provide first aid training but everyone here contacts the St John's Ambulance for that sort of certification.

 

[Spindifferent]

Be informed. Charity Navigator rating of the American Red Cross:

Charity Navigator - Rating for American Red Cross

 

[zzvyb6]

I know several veterans who are down on the Red Cross. My donations go to the Salvation Army, from what I gather is the most efficient charity in the business.

Same here. Red Cross is down at the bottom of the list along with Goodwill Industries (a private company, btw). United Way is poor, too.

 

[oosik]

My donations always go to the Salvation Army. I know, for sure, this is a good organization and they use donated money wisely. I was a volunteer with the SA while I was in Alaska. My father was a WWll vet and was seriously down on the Red Cross.

 

[EddieWalker]

I haven't been down to any of the areas hit by Harvey, but I have friends that are making weekly trips with donations from here, and they have had issues with the Red Cross not allowing them to give away stuff in their areas. The police will escort them out of the Red Cross area, regardless of what people need and what they have on their trucks and trailers.

I also do not know what happens to donations given to the Red Cross. All they want is cash, not items people need. I have no idea where you would go to give real items to the Red Cross either, but I haven't looked. I have too many friends collecting stuff and getting it down there to pay attention to the Red Cross. It's just frustrating hearing about the turf wars created by the Red Cross.

 

[dmccarty]

Be informed. Charity Navigator rating of the American Red Cross:

Charity Navigator - Rating for American Red Cross

THIS ^ ^ ^ and this site, Charity Ratings | America's Most Independent, Assertive Charity Watchdog | CharityWatch. I have questions about these ratings but I can't find anything better to use.

I was researching organizations to donate too for hurricane relief and I was using the above mentioned site to make some decisions. Seems like the Methodists with the United Methodist Committee on Relief(UMCOR) organization are spending their money well. I just dont buy into the argument that charities need to have highly paid managers to raise lots of money. Bovine scat. The head of the UMCOR is paid $127,000 while the head of the American Red Cross is over $500,000. I know who will NOT get my money.

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

I have helped out in two disasters. After Hurricane Floyd flooded eastern NC, I was down there looking for looters and bodies and thankfully found neither. The water was still high but the Mennonites were already working. I have no idea where the heck they came from but they were already on site and working. They were providing food, clothing and labor to the survivors. The Red Cross was there providing food as was the National Guard.

A week or so later I went back to help clean up. The Red Cross and the National Guard were gone...

The Mennonites were still there. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

The Baptists had arrived in force, and both groups, along with other volunteers, were out helping people clean out and repair houses.

After a tornado hit, I was helping out in a rural area. Never saw the Red Cross or the National Guard, just locals and friends of the survivors. Except, that a local church was setting up to host people arriving from other churches in VA to help with the cleanup. :thumbsup:

From my limited view, the religious organizations provide better relief services, and if the previously mentioned websites are correct, they do it more efficiently and cheaply.

I can't find a/the Baptist organization that I saw in Floyd. They had a semi trailer set up as a kitchen, bathroom and shower that they could drive to the disaster areas. Great setup that cost a fair amount of money to buy and run but sooooo danged helpful.

Later,
Dan

 

[mjarrels]

I quit red cross donations whe bob dole made white house run and his wife was head of the red cross making big, big bucks. Watched a NEFLIX specal a few months ago on mega mansions in the us and yep, one was the red cross office in calif, must take millions just to maintain the place.

mark

 

[YanmarFever]

I was involved with a flood in Ohio. Red Cross handed out supplies bought with FEMA money. They also hung Red Cross banners at volunteer sites. No Red Cross personnel actually helping. They were very good at claiming responsibility for others work. Lots of red tape doing anything with Red Cross for FEMA money. I quit donating to them after this experience. Salvation Army helped without preaching.

RC did the same thing at the Oklahoma city bombing, the church handed out all the food and bandages while the red cross put up their banner in front of the TV cameras. United way is not any better.

When I donate, its to the Salvation Army, they are very accountable with their funds.

 

[ultrarunner]

Im my corner of the country... the SF Bay Area, the Salvation Army is persona non grata... at least when it comes to media as are just about all faith based except for some SF City home grown like Rev Amos Brown

NAACP | Dr. Amos C. Brown