Salvation Army = PETA of human charities?

[sr_foxley]

So...

In the last couple days, Teekachu and later slysquirrel made reference to this LJ post lambasting the Salvation Army. (Read the post if you want to see why, but they make good arguments, and the few places I've looked to verify the facts seem to corroborate most of the claims made in said entry: It appears the Salvation Army is a proselytizing church

Comments

[slysquirrel]

It sounds like you're moving to a question of lesser evils with this post. While I haven't done the research on these charities, and can't safely mention a charitable organization who does good work altruistically, I have to step in and say that my primary concern with this situation was not covered in the letter

[sr_foxley]

Oh agreed-- If they were entirely privately funded, I'd take much less issue with their political and religious agenda. But you're right, the involvement of public funds (ie. yes, I know it's my money, indirectly) just makes my blood boil about this...

And yes, I'd forgotten about United Way. Hmmm... man, I haven't heard about them for years; I wonder what they've been up to lately...

Hmmm...

[benben]

This is Boise only but it's a good organization:

http://www.interfaithsanctuary.org/

More info here.

It's a shelter run by two paid staff and a bunch of volunteers. It is truly interfaith meaning Jews, Muslims, Pagans, and atheists are all involved in running this shelter. It sprang up in an effort to offset the strict Christian philosophy and programs provided the Boise Rescue Mission.

Every penny will be well spent.

[firesplace]

(shameless plug)
Coins That Count
Kudos from Seattle Times
Ellen Degeneres gets into the act, with Second Harvest
(/plug)

=)

[draggonlaady]

All the large charities (as far as I know) have had some sort of bad light at some point--last I heard, Salvation Army was actually one of the better ones as far as percentage of money donated actually going to the needy. These numbers come from my grandmother, who is granted not always a reliable news source, but she says that SA gives something like seventy cents of a donated dollar to actually helping people, whereas United Way is closer to fifty cents and Red Cross something like thirty. (anybody with a more reliable source feel free to correct me

[jecook]

Possibly Make-A-Wish? Just a suggestion.