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| Residents across Texas are expressing their outrage at The Red Cross after Hurricane Harvey victims and relief volunteers witnessed mismanagement and apathy from Red Cross workers. One of the most dramatic stories came from Lindsey Scott, who brought 400 warm hamburgers to a shelter, but was not allowed to distribute them by Red Cross workers, who put the hot meals on ice, despite the fact that evacuees in their shelter had only had so much as a sandwich in 24 hours. At Wednesday morning’s Houston City Counsel meeting, Councilman Dave Martin, who represents flood-ravaged Kingwood, had a very clear message to prospective donors of The Red Cross. “I beg you not to send them a penny,” he said. “They are the most inept unorganized organization I’ve ever experienced. Don’t waste your money. Give it to another cause.” Harris County Judge Ed Emmett was also uncomplimentary of the organization. Judge Emmett admitted that he asked a local nonprofit to manage the shelter at NRG Park, because he didn’t trust The Red Cross to do a good job.... |
They are down in the Caribbean and Texas already and are on the way to Florida
They have too much influence and branding
$50 wasted I guess...shit!
I need to pay better attention
I've heard and read similar things for years.
That said, I personally went around with a small Red Cross team and some media after the floods of 2011 upstate, and the handful of people in the two Red Cross vehicles were great. They went far beyond reasonable efforts to helps many people over the 2 days I was traveling around with them.
The cynic in the crowd might say, well, there was media with them, so ...
And I get that.
But these were front-line people. They actually were not thrilled to be the focus of any attention. They just worked, and helped, and were there for folks who needed someone, something, anything, in a really rough time.
Like with anything, the Red Cross may suck, broad stroke. But it's not all bad.
https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=5239
However, their methodology over-ranks the Red Cross at three stars, because it doesn't take into account the extent to which the Red Cross reduces the effectiveness of other organizations. That is outside their algorithm.
By the way, some places that would have seemed to be outside of the Irma target area are getting their teeth kicked in by storm surge. That includes Jacksonville inside Florida, but also much of the South Carolina coast, including Charlotte. Economic damage and need for relief is going to be extremely wide as well as deep.
I like the idea of gift cards that go to specific local organizations who will almost spend every dollar on program expenses. By the way, GoFundMe is starting targeted sites in connection with The Direct Impact Fund. Here is the one for Irma:
https://www.gofundme.com/raise-funds/irma
All beneficiaries selected to receive donations will be fully vetted and certified by GoFundMe's Trust & Safety Team and are backed by the GoFundMe Guarantee.
I don't see one for Harvey, though.
Link - ( New Window )
But Texans deserve to be chastised for attacking an aid organization. Without the Red Cross, where would they Be? Not better off. They would have alot less aid, and instructing others not give put future relief work at risk.
I don't know that there a right and a wrong here, but f them for there total lack of understanding.
So, yes, in that situation, I would scream, "please help, but don't do it through the Red Cross." This is an absolutely rational response, and is far from being ungrateful.
People in need do not succeed by telling others what to do with their money. Chances are they decreased donations to the Red Cross without gaining contributions elsewhere.
Shit-heads abound in clusters; never is anything all-good or all-bad. Characterizing an entire state and a very large charity organization is a bit of a stretch...