The Red Cross

[WickedLady]

There was a story in today's 'The Olympian' (newspaper) about a 33 year old woman and her children who had their Pace Arrow burn down while parked in Olympia, WA. Luckily, they and their pets got out without injury but lost everything.
They were referred to The Red Cross and were refused help because they lived in an RV rather than a regular house!!!!

I will not be donating to The Red Cross.....Ever!!!

[Sparkle]

I hope the people in that area are as outraged as I am! The Salovation Army can be cold too. A girl I knew, living at home with an abusive father, walked out one evening and went to them for help. She was turned away, they said we're not here to help the likes of you.

[kelpie]

Just want to mention in both instances - that may not be the whole story or even what actually happened unless you have first hand knowledge of all the details. And even if they are 100% accurate, wouldn't it be just as wrong to condemn entire international agencies for specific isolated events. and no, I do not work for or belong to either organization.

[oregontocal]

Just want to mention in both instances - that may not be the whole story or even what actually happened unless you have first hand knowledge of all the details. And even if they are 100% accurate, wouldn't it be just as wrong to condemn entire international agencies for specific isolated events. and no, I do not work for or belong to either organization.

I agree. Although the information presented sounds terrible and might be true, there's also the possibility we're not hearing the whole story.

Several years ago while serving as a chaplain for victims of the huge wildfires in San Diego County, I worked closely with both agencies as well as with others. Workers from both agencies went far beyond what was expected or required in helping many, many people find places to live, clothes to wear, and many other necessities. I had nothing but admiration for the many hours they served.

I sincerely hope my admiration hasn't been misplaced.

[jemek]

I wonder why they insurance company is not helping them. I know when Ron and Ali had the engine fire in theirs...the first person they called was the insurance agent. They were told they could have up to $2000.00 to help with lodging, being that lived in the RV.

I did google and read the article.

http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/1051768.html

Okay...so I did some more googling..granted this deals with home fires. So I have to wonder..there are many many people who live in RV fulltime and that IS their home. I would think they would help...maybe they need to reconsider what their policies are in this area.
How the Red Cross helps.
The Red Cross is committed to teaching people the skills they need to prevent home fires, and helping people recover after a fire happens. At any time of day or night, trained Red Cross volunteers respond to the scene of home fires and provide food, shelter and emotional support, free of cost to those affected.

[Cedar518]

Perhaps it is wrong to condem a whole organization for the stupid action of one branch, however, it has set a tone in my mind that I will not be donating to the Red Cross. For specific local causes, yes,... general donations -- no.

I also went online and read the article in the paper,... and the comments that followed. it seems that the majority of the comments were mean spirited,... from accusing the mother of smoking dope, to dumping sewage in storm drains to needing to have her children taken away from her, .... all because she's trying to keep her family together and is/was living in a MH. Who knows? She might have lost her job and house in the economic downturn,... not everyone is wealthy and "living the good life".... I was really surprised at the nasty tone of the comments. Even saying she shouldn't have had a dog if she couldn't take care of her kids,... geeesh,... having a dog was trying to give her kids a fairly normal life! My heart goes out to her,.... and to those snobby people with plenty of money who are making assumptions,... a good kick in the shins!

[avalen]

my heart goes out to them as well, lost my home once and I wouldn't
wish that on anyone but definately wonder why the Red Cross won't help.
I'm guessing the lady had no insurance on her rig, with the economic
hard times everyone is going through now, its possible she didn't have
the money to pay the policy.

[retiredhappy]

I stopped donating to any of the large charities when I saw an article on how much of the donation money goes towards administrations fee and large salaries for their CEOs. Every christmas I call our local battered womens shelter and find out how many women and kids they have in residence. I make up a "goodie" package for each one that includes toiletries. I get a toy and an item of clothing for the kids. If there aren't too many I've also included a small Walmart gift card. This way I know that every penny I spend goes directly to the person who actually needs it. Everytime I've cleaned out my closets I've taken the clothes there as well because most of these women leave with only the clothes on their backs.

[Sparkle]

When I went to Fiji I was amazed to see a vast area devastated by something. When I enquired of a Fijian what had happened he was amazed I didn't know that there had been a terrible Hurricane. The reason he was amazed was he thought everybody in America had come to their aid. He said within 24 hours the planes from America began to land, with tents, beds, bedding, clothes, food, medical supplies. And they hadn't even got themselves organised enough to ask for help. It just came. And it was the Red Cross. In the big disasters they are wonderful, buty I wonder if you just go knocking on the door and ask for help it all depends on who you get.
I know the girl who asked for help and was refused - it was my daughter.

[VickieP]

When our home flooded in 2006 from heavy rain, not hurricane related, we asked for help until insurance could get in gear. They said the only thing they could do was give us $123. for renting an apartment, now where in the heck can you rent an apartment for that, it wouldn't have even covered a deposit on one.

[mitch5252]

..

My Dad had a very strong dislike for the Red Cross until the day he died because he was charged for a cup of coffee by them when he was fighting somewhere in WWII.

(I don't mean to sound flip about his being somewhere" - I just don't recall where because he served in both the European Theater and the Pacific Theater.)

..

[Echo]

I kinda the same mind as Karen. I to have almost stopped all donations to the large organizations. Our family has had a couple run in with Red Cross and Salvation Army. When I was a kid my Dad's cousin, wife and 5 kids lost their rental house in a fire and everything they owned except what they had on their backs and one blanket. All of them came to our house to stay. Mom took Lorain to the Red Cross and Salvation Army to see what they could get to help them get set back up? Red Cross would set them up with some beds but wanted to know how soon they could get paid/reimbursed. And would not give them the beds unless they had a deposit and a good idea of reimbursement. Salvation Army would give them any clothes and help them with some furniture but the same repayment thing came up for the furniture. And I don't agree with the Salvation Army's stand on not helping gays.

There are times when both Red Cross and Salvation Army will step up to the plate and do awesome things. But ya have to wonder if they are only doing it out of desire for the media attention? Bigger mess? Better media coverage. Have a cousin who use to donate her time to the Red Cross and was a coordinator for our area if disaster struck. Big flood in '72 in the northeast was a good example. The Red Cross really came thru for supplies and things for people. I think where they really fall flat on their butts is the one on one stuff. The disasters for the little people, the individuals that most people don't hear about that is where they can't be bothered to help. They, the big Orgs. get nothing out of it. Or so they think. I wonder if anyone in a position of control or power has ever thought that sooner or later all these "little stories" will add up and crash on them???

Local charities I will donate to. The one big Organization I will help and donate to whenever they are out collecting is the Shriners. Haven't read anything bad about them and I think they got a good thing going on.

[Bethers]

Unfortunately, many of these organizations are set up for help in big disasters - like the hurricane in Fiji, or in New Orleans - where they work to get entire truckloads and planeloads of goods to people. I don't believe many of them are set-up to help the individual.

Now, my question is - did the newspaper or anyone local jump in to help when the Red Cross did not? Because if they simply reported the story of how the Red Cross didn't help, then did nothing themselves, SHAME ON THEM!

I know where of I speak. When I owned a small motel in WI, I housed, more than once, people who were burned out of their homes. When I managed a motel for others in WI, we joined with the fire dept - we were on their list to call if someone was burned out - for emergency shelter FREE for at least one night (if we had a room). Not trying to pat myself on the back, but the story got to the press, and I just wonder, how'd it get there - and did anyone help before then. Let's not castigate one organization, when others should be helping also.

As with Karen, my contributions are not to any BIG organization - as I check out how much they spend for fundraising, etc. As a child I was a poster girl for the Community Chest. Today they are part of United Way and no way would I contribute to them. Things and times have changed.

Yep, it's sad, but we don't know the whole story. However what's sadder - is that in both this case, and in the case of Sparkle's daughter - if what they are looking for is not something that organization does - they SHOULD be finding one that CAN help and helping the person that way.

[Cedar518]

And I don't agree with the Salvation Army's stand on not helping gays.

WHAT!!?!?

That's like saying someone wouldn't help a person with blue eyes or blonde hair. People are born with certain characteristics, end of story! Shame on the Salvation Army!

[Gentleladybear]

Please read all the article and the posted comments, sort this out.


http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/1051768.html