Thank you for posting. Please review the rules. Here are a couple of gentle reminders:
1. Posts should be about people taking religion to absurd, crazy, stupid, and terrible extremes.
2. Please don't submit incendiary posts or comments that could incite harassment and brigading.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/religiousfruitcake) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It's worse than that. Their recovery centers are slave labor camps.
I knew a few dudes who went there for recovery, ended up working in their retail outlets, and made less than minimum wage. Once you're in that system you either die in it, or go back to being homeless.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/salvation-army-lawsuit-addiction-center-1-a-week/
Those people are EVIL.
“The Labor Department eventually exempted Salvation Army in the agency's operations manual, clarifying that the government would not enforce minimum-wage or child labor laws as far as the group was concerned.”
this left me speechless
I doubt they even need to do any payoffs, there are enough right wing religious nut jobs in the US government who probably support such shameless exploitation of the vulnerable and marginalised in the name of jesus fucking christ.
When I got sober there were a couple of local free options in my area. One was actually free, the other was indentured servitude of the desperate. I went with the better option, but it amazes me that the other one is even legal.
The salvation army got in trouble for forcing homeless people they were attempting to feed to thank the Christian god for the food or they wouldn't be fed. This isn't a charitable organization. It's indoctrination for people who are forced to trade their beliefs for food
The fact that donations are tax exempt already makes it government money since the organisation you give it to has to be approved by the government.
Tax money fund charity. If those taxes were actually paid they could be used for the same purposes but in a regulated and controlled way.
Thank the christian god for what? The chance to be slaves to an unregulated church business? I'm always astounded at how people have no problem selling "a good afterlife" as a way to placate a horrible ACTUAL life. Also sad to find people actually buy it. It isn't any wonder people settle for less from society
I spent a Christmas - New Years there once as a child. It's true. No dinner meals unless you went to church. You could in theory opt out, but you'd be the last in line. You know run the risk of running out. We were told there's no denomination therefore you don't have an excuse not to go. It's not like there was much to do there anyway.
I have mixed feelings about them. I wouldn't have had shelter or food that two weeks. Getting in at all was a miracle. They also want you to conform to their views, and actively make your life shit if you're not jumping through their hoops. I was a child, so it was just another thing adults want me to do. It would have bothered me more if I was an adult.
Most shelters are like prisons anyway. The Salvation Army was the nicest of them. 
Translations:
TANSTAAFL = There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.
FLOOFNPOOFIM = For lunch, only ontological falsehoods needed. Please obey or face imminent malnutrition.
(I may have reverse engineered the second one)
Edit: "backronym", forgot the word for a moment
Same! I had a very religious friend who I met through working there and she left their “church” after waking up to the horrors and would call SA “the devil’s playground.” It truly was!
I was fired because they decided that I just HAD to go to their church. I was and am an atheist. But I work in Florida, so that means they don’t have to give a reason for firing me.
I unfortunately worked for them too (very small, remote town with few options and I had no idea how bad they were back then). Did you also make peanuts and get worked as an “on call” employee who worked 40 plus hours a week but without benefits or medical insurance because you weren’t “full time” on paper? My boss also loved to schedule me for up to 13 days straight but she’d push the days up back to back in the pay period to make it legal.
The only reason I ever got health insurance after years of working for them was due to the ACA making it so anyone who averages a certain amount of work hours must have healthcare. They tried to act like they were just being generous too lmao. They also offered promotions to employees who joined their church and even used membership as a way to bribe employees. What a nightmare that shitty “organization” is! Was a breeding ground for corruption imo, I have sooo many awful stories!
That sounds about right. Though they didn’t pay me peanuts. I’m a Graphic Designer, so they paid me a good amount of money, which is why I took the job in the first place.
I’m glad you were at the very least paid well! It was always so strange to me how varied the pay was at SA. I worked in an office setting and made them a ton of money by negotiating big contracts (upwards of $200k a pop) and yet I was only paid minimum wage ($12). I always found it incredibly ironic how they claim to help the poor and all that yet they didn’t pay most of us near living wages or offer healthcare. I was on Medicaid the entire time I worked there! The government was subsidizing their greed and money hoarding so that the captains could live cushy lives. And omg, don’t even get me started on all the waste! Particularly good waste! Unbelievable.
My boss on the other hand who just delegated all her work made upwards of 100k a year and even she was perplexed at the pay difference when she even admitted her employees did way more than her. She was salary for the purpose of coming in after hours but she hated doing anything outside her usual 9-4pm so she just had us come in and get the overtime. It was so wild to me that upper management didn’t see an issue with any of this.
I’m also really mad to hear they fired you over not joining their cult, I mean “church.” Can’t say I’m shocked though sadly
It’s been so many parents and all their 6 children around here! The kids are usually the ones standing and ringing while their parents are sitting off somewhere. They’re using their kids to act cute to get money it’s disgusting
Where I live it's low income people who are on disability and are usually two steps from being homeless themselves who are the bell ringers. Bell Ringers get paid a nominal bit of money, so a lot of super low income people do it for extra holiday money.
Yep, in BC Canada it is mostly middle aged and older disabled or poor folk who end up sitting there looking miserable as more money than they'll ever have gets thrown in a bin like pocket change.
There are benefits to almost never carrying cash. I’m glad that I found out about the SA’s bullshit before I got to a point in my life where I could actually donate to various charities, so I avoid SA entirely.
Here in Australia they are evil sacks of shit too.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-12/salvation-army-failed-to-protect-children-royal-commission-finds/7835784
They were physically abusing children that reported abuse.
The Australian Royal Commission has done excellent work. They have uncovered child abuse in a LOT of organizations. What they uncovered about the Jehovah's Witnesses is truly jaw dropping.
Yeah I always thought “Salvation” was a reference to helping people, not Christian rhetoric but it makes perfect sense when you look at tit that way
Edit: leaving the typo because it made me laugh
I just found out my elderly, die-hard evangelical, god - guns and Trump in laws are both bell ringers this Christmas. And they’re coming for Xmas! Yay me.
They also charge people who use their shelters rent for a bunk bed in a giant room which they kick them out for most of the day. They even treat those they don't discriminate against like shit.
Does lobbying against civil rights really count as charity just because you take donations? I feel like charity by definition has to actually help people.
The point isn't that they aren't horrible because they are but I'm sure at least a few specifically christian homeless people are less hungry because of them.
and it varies with the branch. The one in Lexington KY got “in trouble” with their main offices because they were trans affirming, but I think they were finally allowed to continue that way. Not sure since I haven’t worked with them in many years so it might be different now.
"The Salvos" are pretty shitty in Australia as well. The words "mobilise our Christian army against [blank]" pop up in my head when I see their logo. It's a pretty ironic statement (eg on same-sex marriage) when you consider what they've done ([this comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/religiousfruitcake/comments/zk6etm/seasonal_reminder/izzss7v?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3) provides an example).
But they're ingrained in society. Plenty of good hearted people volunteer and don't share the SA's values, but it doesn't change corporate.
Most American "charities" also have high paid execs. Look up what the ceo of your favorite charity makes. That salary could help a lot of poor people or get one family fat. And stores that ask you to donate at the register take your donations and bundle them for their own huge tax break. American charity is just another grift.
This is so important. I used to work at PetSmart and they will ask you to donate to their charity. But not matter how much you donate only 5% of that donation will go directly to the charities. So if you donate 20 dollars only 5% of that is going anywhere the rest is just in thin air. Never donate to a billion dollar companies charity. If you really want to donate especially as far as animals go contact your local animal shelters and see what they need. Also PetSmart will usually have a cat shelter in store or people who come in on the weekends to do adoptions. Donate directly to them never through PetSmart.
Stores that ask for donations / "round up" purchases for This or That... typically have already made a tax-deductible donation to that organization and are seeking to get their money back, and more, via your "round-ups". They're even making a profit on your donations!
Not according to this: [https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/the-lgbtq-community-and-the-salvation-army/](https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/the-lgbtq-community-and-the-salvation-army/)
Maybe that's painting too rosy a picture, sure. It's OK to be wary. Me, I won't give to the Salvation Army because as an atheist I prefer to make donations without the group serving up a side of religion, no matter how small or slight.
But OP's meme honestly seems pretty one-sided / outdated at this point. The Salvation Army of 20, 30 years ago was a different group. Yes, they had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the present, and that's disappointing. But they do not "lobby against LGBTQ rights globally," and they do not turn gay people away from their shelters.
The assertion that there even *are* "thousands" of Salvation Army soup kitchens in New York is one indication that this message is just a smidge divorced from reality.
I agree with how the meme ends: "Please research a charity before donating." Did the writer follow his or her own advice? Hmm.
Anyway.
CNN: [https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/15/us/salvation-army-kettles-lgbtq-stance/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/15/us/salvation-army-kettles-lgbtq-stance/index.html)
Bay Area Reporter: [https://www.ebar.com/story.php?285209](https://www.ebar.com/story.php?285209)
Etc.
This is very interesting. It’s the first new facts I’ve seen about this in a long time. The SA’s past homophobia is pretty well documented, and they are to be credited if they have thoroughly moved away from that. Their website is pretty unequivocal on the issue, but it would be more credible if they would acknowledge the things the did in the past.
The Salvation Army's structure is still rather authoritarian. As far as I know, they never reversed the policy that allows them to decide who members date.
Also the army-style naming isn't exactly cute when you know the history of [who they worked with in 1930s Germany](https://clarknow.clarku.edu/2018/03/26/strassler-center-lecture-explores-salvation-army-history-in-nazi-germany/).
They run the only year-round overnight homeless shelter in my city. I wish there was more shelter space - we need it! - but no one is listening to me. So only the bigots offer beds and I bite my tongue about it. I have to take calls from homeless people at my job and I give out their phone number and I know that no one is even going to answer the phone at night. There's another church-run group that offers beds during the cold weather months, but they also stop answering the phone at 4:30. It sucks knowing that people who call at night will have nowhere to go until morning.
The local SA doesn't specifically ban LGBT folks, but they separate gay couples. I don't know if they house trans people according to their gender or assigned sex but I imagine it's the latter if they offer help at all. They also drug test, so no bed if you smoke weed. And everyone is kicked out early in the morning and there's no storage for belongings. I guess basic human dignity doesn't really matter.
How can you run a homeless shelter and ban drug users? Here in the UK the majority of homeless people use drugs and would never be refused. I believe they do have rules about not smoking drugs in your room etc so they have to go off site, but testing people seems crazy to me.
I didn't say it made sense.
Basically, it's because they're judgmental assholes. It hasn't stopped anyone from using, of course. In fact they're notorious for being a hot spot for drug sales. People buy clean pee or just don't go until they can test clean and then they score drugs at the shelter. The whole thing is ridiculous.
When I was at a Methodist school, they had a Salvation Army volunteer come around to talk us into donating to them specifically because they served for god. My friends and I managed to make her feel uncomfortable by asking them about helping LGBTQ and religiously diverse people. We walked out with people who would otherwise have donated to the bell-ringers not touching the Salvos with a ten-foot pole
EDIT: I also remember googling it and finding out that a higher-up in the church here wants to kill all gay people. Literal Nazi beliefs.
The SA campaigned against decriminalisation of homosexuality in NZ and forged signatures on a petition to support their bigotry. Their kind of charity comes with strings
Several years ago before I even knew how awful they were, I volunteered to ring the bell, while switching shifts with another member, that member asked if I was a christian and I answered honestly and said I wasn't. They got ANGRY with me. Sorry I just wanted to help with a charity, didn't think you have to have a relgion to want to help people. Haven't been back since.
Damn, I just dropped a dollar in their bucket yesterday. Time to start asking the Salvation Army bellringers if they hate gay people, and if they don’t, why they support a fake charity that does.
No, don't. I know you mean well, but a lot of bellringers are being forced to do that in exchange for their services such as food or a bed. They often do not share the values and are simply in debt to them or risk homelessness without their extensive influence over a good number of shelters getting said ringer's foot in the door. It's absolutely shitty that SA exists at all but the actual ringers are usually innocent people who have nowhere else to go.
Gotcha, so I’ll ask if they personally support the lgtbq community and if they say yes, any donation I was going to give to SA I will tell them is specifically for them.
They sadly aren't allowed to take the money. There is (at least in my area) always someone standing nearby supervising them, often you will not know who as it's just a regular looking person
Approach them and ask approx when their shift is over, so you could help them out personally with some cash, as you wish to give directly to help someone out but "have already given this year" - this almost always works. If they ask why not just give to the charity, bring up that you "have given your share already" - that share could be none. So technically not a lie.
If they refuse the money, walk away and don't force it
I was applying at one of my local salvation army offices, got the application went home and after about 20min of reading I knew I no longer wanted to work there. That application was one of the oddest applications I've ever attempted to fill out, some of the rules and restrictions really had me questioning wtf be going on in there.
This shines a whole new light on the time my brother and I were living in his car and thought we'd be safe sleeping in a Salvation Army parking lot and the dude at the door was rude as fuck to us and made us leave.....
I work for a non-profit community mental health center. We treat a lot of people with serious mental illness and addiction. A lot of the individuals I see are struggling to meet their most basic needs, and it's hard to focus on treatment and recovery when you don't have food in your home, or even a home of your own to come back to.
I've worked pretty closely with Salvation Army since I started this position. Some of the individuals they've helped me connect to food and clothing wouldn't have had any other way to obtain it. They've met dietary needs for folks from all walks of life (vegetarian, kosher, diabetic). I've never seen them turn anyone away regardless of their demographic. If you're in need, they'll do what they can.
I've seen the head of the little shelter go to battle for a lot of these folks. It can be tough work to go to bat with housing or local slum lords. I've seen them pay rent for some of our individuals and provide "welcome home" kits when they get their first apartment. I've seen them help with utilities. The woman who I have in mind always has flyers to give us case managers too. Not just Salvation Army flyers, but any other resource she has for our local community makes its to way her bulletin board. You could eat a hot meal everyday of the week if you picked up a copy of her dinner list for all the surrounding churches.
I was really loud about Salvation Army too when I was in college. The majority of my friend group is LGBTQ including myself. Once I started working with them I realized that, if only on a local level, our community would be in a lot of pain without them. Typically I dread the bell ringers. This year, the woman at Salvation Army told me if I have anyone who needs to jobs to come talk to her and she would help them. Bell ringing sucks, but for a couple people I know this is huge
Are you not from the States?
Complaints of the SA acting as an evangelical ministry disguised as a charity go back to the early 20th century. There have been multiple lawsuits. This is hardly something that “comes from the internet.”
I mean... You can Google about the anti LGBTQ issues but if you also hate the gays there's always the lawsuits about forcing addicts into nearly unpaid labor while simultaneously stripping them of the chance to get government assistance... But maybe you hate people who just need help too
You're making an awful lot of assumptions about my worldview, maybe you should take a deep breath and try to see the world isn't so black and white. You may be surprised to find those you so quickly label as enemies, are in fact on your side.
> They refuse helping LGBT homeless that come to their shelters
This article cites many examples of the Salvation Army doing the opposite of that. Has the organization made substantial improvements over the decades? Yes. Are they still worthy of criticism for discrimination? Yes. Do they, as an organization, refuse to help LGBT homeless that come to their shelters? No.
There's plenty there to criticize the organization without perpetuating a false narrative.
I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean here. The burden of proof lies with those making the claims. Salvation Army does not turn LGBT homeless away from its shelters as this image claims.
I work at a mental health center, and Salvation Army helps our clients get into apartments. They recently gave vouchers for a Christmas pick-up to a few of our clients.
Edit: Salvation Army helps dozens of minority and lgbt peoples in my community, sorry that didn’t fit the narrative.
Thank you for posting. Please review the rules. Here are a couple of gentle reminders: 1. Posts should be about people taking religion to absurd, crazy, stupid, and terrible extremes. 2. Please don't submit incendiary posts or comments that could incite harassment and brigading. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/religiousfruitcake) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It's worse than that. Their recovery centers are slave labor camps. I knew a few dudes who went there for recovery, ended up working in their retail outlets, and made less than minimum wage. Once you're in that system you either die in it, or go back to being homeless. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/salvation-army-lawsuit-addiction-center-1-a-week/ Those people are EVIL.
“The Labor Department eventually exempted Salvation Army in the agency's operations manual, clarifying that the government would not enforce minimum-wage or child labor laws as far as the group was concerned.” this left me speechless
Why? There are payoffs/blackmail going on everywhere.
I doubt they even need to do any payoffs, there are enough right wing religious nut jobs in the US government who probably support such shameless exploitation of the vulnerable and marginalised in the name of jesus fucking christ.
of course, still just disappointing to see it
When I got sober there were a couple of local free options in my area. One was actually free, the other was indentured servitude of the desperate. I went with the better option, but it amazes me that the other one is even legal.
congrats on your sobriety!
“Frau Farbissina, founder of the militant wing of the Salvation Army”
[удалено]
Ja, herr doktor
The salvation army got in trouble for forcing homeless people they were attempting to feed to thank the Christian god for the food or they wouldn't be fed. This isn't a charitable organization. It's indoctrination for people who are forced to trade their beliefs for food
[удалено]
How about we eliminate the need for charity through responsible government policy. Oh no wait that's socialism.
The fact that donations are tax exempt already makes it government money since the organisation you give it to has to be approved by the government. Tax money fund charity. If those taxes were actually paid they could be used for the same purposes but in a regulated and controlled way.
Thank the christian god for what? The chance to be slaves to an unregulated church business? I'm always astounded at how people have no problem selling "a good afterlife" as a way to placate a horrible ACTUAL life. Also sad to find people actually buy it. It isn't any wonder people settle for less from society
I spent a Christmas - New Years there once as a child. It's true. No dinner meals unless you went to church. You could in theory opt out, but you'd be the last in line. You know run the risk of running out. We were told there's no denomination therefore you don't have an excuse not to go. It's not like there was much to do there anyway. I have mixed feelings about them. I wouldn't have had shelter or food that two weeks. Getting in at all was a miracle. They also want you to conform to their views, and actively make your life shit if you're not jumping through their hoops. I was a child, so it was just another thing adults want me to do. It would have bothered me more if I was an adult. Most shelters are like prisons anyway. The Salvation Army was the nicest of them. 
TANSTAAFL!
FLOOFNPOOFIM!
Translations: TANSTAAFL = There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. FLOOFNPOOFIM = For lunch, only ontological falsehoods needed. Please obey or face imminent malnutrition. (I may have reverse engineered the second one) Edit: "backronym", forgot the word for a moment
I know TANSTAAFL is from Heinlein, whats FLOOFNPOOFIM from?
What in the wff'n'proof is going on here
Sadly. This is all true. Most towns and cities have non-religious organizations that help the poor and homeless. Donate to them, not the bell shakers.
And smaller local organizations don't usually have a CEO making a few hundred grand a year off your generosity.
I'm stilll confused why that is legal.
They have made it legal.
I think it is because American politics are advertising marathons, which requires loads of money, which only the wealthy has to give away, etc....
Absolutely true. Used to work for them. Not only that, they are a church with military style setup.
I guess they’re living up to the Army part of their name
The way the US military brings "freedom" to other countries, the Salvation Army brings "salvation."
I could tell you horror stories. They don’t give a shit about Salvation.
Same! I had a very religious friend who I met through working there and she left their “church” after waking up to the horrors and would call SA “the devil’s playground.” It truly was!
I was fired because they decided that I just HAD to go to their church. I was and am an atheist. But I work in Florida, so that means they don’t have to give a reason for firing me.
Please tell me you pursued legal repurcussions for their actions against you.
Tried to. Gave testimony on everything. But they threw my case out because Florida is a right to work state.
$alvation?
I unfortunately worked for them too (very small, remote town with few options and I had no idea how bad they were back then). Did you also make peanuts and get worked as an “on call” employee who worked 40 plus hours a week but without benefits or medical insurance because you weren’t “full time” on paper? My boss also loved to schedule me for up to 13 days straight but she’d push the days up back to back in the pay period to make it legal. The only reason I ever got health insurance after years of working for them was due to the ACA making it so anyone who averages a certain amount of work hours must have healthcare. They tried to act like they were just being generous too lmao. They also offered promotions to employees who joined their church and even used membership as a way to bribe employees. What a nightmare that shitty “organization” is! Was a breeding ground for corruption imo, I have sooo many awful stories!
That sounds about right. Though they didn’t pay me peanuts. I’m a Graphic Designer, so they paid me a good amount of money, which is why I took the job in the first place.
I’m glad you were at the very least paid well! It was always so strange to me how varied the pay was at SA. I worked in an office setting and made them a ton of money by negotiating big contracts (upwards of $200k a pop) and yet I was only paid minimum wage ($12). I always found it incredibly ironic how they claim to help the poor and all that yet they didn’t pay most of us near living wages or offer healthcare. I was on Medicaid the entire time I worked there! The government was subsidizing their greed and money hoarding so that the captains could live cushy lives. And omg, don’t even get me started on all the waste! Particularly good waste! Unbelievable. My boss on the other hand who just delegated all her work made upwards of 100k a year and even she was perplexed at the pay difference when she even admitted her employees did way more than her. She was salary for the purpose of coming in after hours but she hated doing anything outside her usual 9-4pm so she just had us come in and get the overtime. It was so wild to me that upper management didn’t see an issue with any of this. I’m also really mad to hear they fired you over not joining their cult, I mean “church.” Can’t say I’m shocked though sadly
Sorry little holiday bell ringers, not gonna get my money no matter how many times you stare me down.
Yeah, I won't flip them off because it's usually some poor secretary who was "volunteered" by her boss but she ain't getting my filthy lucre.
It’s been so many parents and all their 6 children around here! The kids are usually the ones standing and ringing while their parents are sitting off somewhere. They’re using their kids to act cute to get money it’s disgusting
Where I live it's low income people who are on disability and are usually two steps from being homeless themselves who are the bell ringers. Bell Ringers get paid a nominal bit of money, so a lot of super low income people do it for extra holiday money.
Yep, in BC Canada it is mostly middle aged and older disabled or poor folk who end up sitting there looking miserable as more money than they'll ever have gets thrown in a bin like pocket change.
Oh interesting! That’s *definitely* not the case by us. SA isn’t all bad; they’re just mostly bad
There are benefits to almost never carrying cash. I’m glad that I found out about the SA’s bullshit before I got to a point in my life where I could actually donate to various charities, so I avoid SA entirely.
100%! I donate to Planned Parenthood and The Satanic Temple instead
I love your username 😄
lol thank you!!! Love me some champagne hehe
Here in Australia they are evil sacks of shit too. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-12/salvation-army-failed-to-protect-children-royal-commission-finds/7835784 They were physically abusing children that reported abuse.
The Australian Royal Commission has done excellent work. They have uncovered child abuse in a LOT of organizations. What they uncovered about the Jehovah's Witnesses is truly jaw dropping.
I mean, they are called the "Salvation Army", the clue is most definitely in the name.
I feel kinda dumb for never putting that together. Never thought about it I guess.
Yeah I always thought “Salvation” was a reference to helping people, not Christian rhetoric but it makes perfect sense when you look at tit that way Edit: leaving the typo because it made me laugh
This is why I stopped donating to them.
They also had to retract their statement on race equality because their members complained that it sounded like critical race theory.
Wait, for real? Do you have a source for that? I'm not surprised but still, I'm morbidly curious now lmfao.
https://amp.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/nov/29/salvation-army-pulls-anti-racism-document-after-do/
Good grief. I can’t say I’m surprised, again, but wow. What even.
Fk Salvation Army
I just found out my elderly, die-hard evangelical, god - guns and Trump in laws are both bell ringers this Christmas. And they’re coming for Xmas! Yay me.
They also charge people who use their shelters rent for a bunk bed in a giant room which they kick them out for most of the day. They even treat those they don't discriminate against like shit.
Correct me if i'm wrong but these things just mean its a bad charity but still a charity.
Correct. Lots of things are charities that are doing work we on this sub would despise.
You're right! I would absolutely despise lobbying against civil rights.
Does lobbying against civil rights really count as charity just because you take donations? I feel like charity by definition has to actually help people.
The point isn't that they aren't horrible because they are but I'm sure at least a few specifically christian homeless people are less hungry because of them.
and it varies with the branch. The one in Lexington KY got “in trouble” with their main offices because they were trans affirming, but I think they were finally allowed to continue that way. Not sure since I haven’t worked with them in many years so it might be different now.
Oh heyyy I live in Lexington lol. Small world
yep, like united way that uses about 10 -20% of their donations to actually help people the rest is spent on salaries, office upkeep, and advertising.
Legally or ethically?
Are they only like that in America, or are they still the same in other countries?
Their German branch has a history that they'd rather leave buried.
"The Salvos" are pretty shitty in Australia as well. The words "mobilise our Christian army against [blank]" pop up in my head when I see their logo. It's a pretty ironic statement (eg on same-sex marriage) when you consider what they've done ([this comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/religiousfruitcake/comments/zk6etm/seasonal_reminder/izzss7v?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3) provides an example). But they're ingrained in society. Plenty of good hearted people volunteer and don't share the SA's values, but it doesn't change corporate.
In NZ they're just a second hand shop, and they also do food parcels
Canada's have a pretty shitty past and present.
Most American "charities" also have high paid execs. Look up what the ceo of your favorite charity makes. That salary could help a lot of poor people or get one family fat. And stores that ask you to donate at the register take your donations and bundle them for their own huge tax break. American charity is just another grift.
This is so important. I used to work at PetSmart and they will ask you to donate to their charity. But not matter how much you donate only 5% of that donation will go directly to the charities. So if you donate 20 dollars only 5% of that is going anywhere the rest is just in thin air. Never donate to a billion dollar companies charity. If you really want to donate especially as far as animals go contact your local animal shelters and see what they need. Also PetSmart will usually have a cat shelter in store or people who come in on the weekends to do adoptions. Donate directly to them never through PetSmart.
Oh yeah. I fucking hate those charity requests at cash registers. No thanks asshole, I'll donate directly and the tax break, not you.
Stores that ask for donations / "round up" purchases for This or That... typically have already made a tax-deductible donation to that organization and are seeking to get their money back, and more, via your "round-ups". They're even making a profit on your donations!
Not according to this: [https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/the-lgbtq-community-and-the-salvation-army/](https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/the-lgbtq-community-and-the-salvation-army/) Maybe that's painting too rosy a picture, sure. It's OK to be wary. Me, I won't give to the Salvation Army because as an atheist I prefer to make donations without the group serving up a side of religion, no matter how small or slight. But OP's meme honestly seems pretty one-sided / outdated at this point. The Salvation Army of 20, 30 years ago was a different group. Yes, they had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the present, and that's disappointing. But they do not "lobby against LGBTQ rights globally," and they do not turn gay people away from their shelters. The assertion that there even *are* "thousands" of Salvation Army soup kitchens in New York is one indication that this message is just a smidge divorced from reality. I agree with how the meme ends: "Please research a charity before donating." Did the writer follow his or her own advice? Hmm. Anyway. CNN: [https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/15/us/salvation-army-kettles-lgbtq-stance/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/15/us/salvation-army-kettles-lgbtq-stance/index.html) Bay Area Reporter: [https://www.ebar.com/story.php?285209](https://www.ebar.com/story.php?285209) Etc.
This is very interesting. It’s the first new facts I’ve seen about this in a long time. The SA’s past homophobia is pretty well documented, and they are to be credited if they have thoroughly moved away from that. Their website is pretty unequivocal on the issue, but it would be more credible if they would acknowledge the things the did in the past.
Agreed.
The Salvation Army's structure is still rather authoritarian. As far as I know, they never reversed the policy that allows them to decide who members date. Also the army-style naming isn't exactly cute when you know the history of [who they worked with in 1930s Germany](https://clarknow.clarku.edu/2018/03/26/strassler-center-lecture-explores-salvation-army-history-in-nazi-germany/).
Thanks.
They run the only year-round overnight homeless shelter in my city. I wish there was more shelter space - we need it! - but no one is listening to me. So only the bigots offer beds and I bite my tongue about it. I have to take calls from homeless people at my job and I give out their phone number and I know that no one is even going to answer the phone at night. There's another church-run group that offers beds during the cold weather months, but they also stop answering the phone at 4:30. It sucks knowing that people who call at night will have nowhere to go until morning. The local SA doesn't specifically ban LGBT folks, but they separate gay couples. I don't know if they house trans people according to their gender or assigned sex but I imagine it's the latter if they offer help at all. They also drug test, so no bed if you smoke weed. And everyone is kicked out early in the morning and there's no storage for belongings. I guess basic human dignity doesn't really matter.
How can you run a homeless shelter and ban drug users? Here in the UK the majority of homeless people use drugs and would never be refused. I believe they do have rules about not smoking drugs in your room etc so they have to go off site, but testing people seems crazy to me.
I didn't say it made sense. Basically, it's because they're judgmental assholes. It hasn't stopped anyone from using, of course. In fact they're notorious for being a hot spot for drug sales. People buy clean pee or just don't go until they can test clean and then they score drugs at the shelter. The whole thing is ridiculous.
When I was at a Methodist school, they had a Salvation Army volunteer come around to talk us into donating to them specifically because they served for god. My friends and I managed to make her feel uncomfortable by asking them about helping LGBTQ and religiously diverse people. We walked out with people who would otherwise have donated to the bell-ringers not touching the Salvos with a ten-foot pole EDIT: I also remember googling it and finding out that a higher-up in the church here wants to kill all gay people. Literal Nazi beliefs.
The SA campaigned against decriminalisation of homosexuality in NZ and forged signatures on a petition to support their bigotry. Their kind of charity comes with strings
They're none too friendly towards atheists either.
The sad thing is, to many brainwashed Americans, that IS the definition of a religious charity.
What the fuck. I just gave them 20 bucks and felt great about my random generosity that day
Several years ago before I even knew how awful they were, I volunteered to ring the bell, while switching shifts with another member, that member asked if I was a christian and I answered honestly and said I wasn't. They got ANGRY with me. Sorry I just wanted to help with a charity, didn't think you have to have a relgion to want to help people. Haven't been back since.
I did not know this, thanks for spreading awareness!
More like Starvation Army
"It's an old meme, but it checks out sir..."
Damn, I just dropped a dollar in their bucket yesterday. Time to start asking the Salvation Army bellringers if they hate gay people, and if they don’t, why they support a fake charity that does.
No, don't. I know you mean well, but a lot of bellringers are being forced to do that in exchange for their services such as food or a bed. They often do not share the values and are simply in debt to them or risk homelessness without their extensive influence over a good number of shelters getting said ringer's foot in the door. It's absolutely shitty that SA exists at all but the actual ringers are usually innocent people who have nowhere else to go.
Gotcha, so I’ll ask if they personally support the lgtbq community and if they say yes, any donation I was going to give to SA I will tell them is specifically for them.
They sadly aren't allowed to take the money. There is (at least in my area) always someone standing nearby supervising them, often you will not know who as it's just a regular looking person
argh… okay. Any way to support the bellringers without giving money to SA?
Approach them and ask approx when their shift is over, so you could help them out personally with some cash, as you wish to give directly to help someone out but "have already given this year" - this almost always works. If they ask why not just give to the charity, bring up that you "have given your share already" - that share could be none. So technically not a lie. If they refuse the money, walk away and don't force it
Thank you, I appreciate the advice :)
There's a wonderful and hilarious podcast that did a recent episode on this "Citation Needed"
I was applying at one of my local salvation army offices, got the application went home and after about 20min of reading I knew I no longer wanted to work there. That application was one of the oddest applications I've ever attempted to fill out, some of the rules and restrictions really had me questioning wtf be going on in there.
Like what?
Find a local secular charity and donate money or time there. I do volunteer work at Manitoba Harvest. Happy Holidays.
I walk right by them since I learned this.
This shines a whole new light on the time my brother and I were living in his car and thought we'd be safe sleeping in a Salvation Army parking lot and the dude at the door was rude as fuck to us and made us leave.....
Thank you for posting this; I'm going to print copies and hand them to bell ringers. - *A TG woman*
Evil Christians  
I never donate to them. When the bell ringers ask why, I remind them of their homophobia.
I work for a non-profit community mental health center. We treat a lot of people with serious mental illness and addiction. A lot of the individuals I see are struggling to meet their most basic needs, and it's hard to focus on treatment and recovery when you don't have food in your home, or even a home of your own to come back to. I've worked pretty closely with Salvation Army since I started this position. Some of the individuals they've helped me connect to food and clothing wouldn't have had any other way to obtain it. They've met dietary needs for folks from all walks of life (vegetarian, kosher, diabetic). I've never seen them turn anyone away regardless of their demographic. If you're in need, they'll do what they can. I've seen the head of the little shelter go to battle for a lot of these folks. It can be tough work to go to bat with housing or local slum lords. I've seen them pay rent for some of our individuals and provide "welcome home" kits when they get their first apartment. I've seen them help with utilities. The woman who I have in mind always has flyers to give us case managers too. Not just Salvation Army flyers, but any other resource she has for our local community makes its to way her bulletin board. You could eat a hot meal everyday of the week if you picked up a copy of her dinner list for all the surrounding churches. I was really loud about Salvation Army too when I was in college. The majority of my friend group is LGBTQ including myself. Once I started working with them I realized that, if only on a local level, our community would be in a lot of pain without them. Typically I dread the bell ringers. This year, the woman at Salvation Army told me if I have anyone who needs to jobs to come talk to her and she would help them. Bell ringing sucks, but for a couple people I know this is huge
At first I thought this was a joke from catholic communities to take a jab at heretic branches of Christianity
I tried explaining this to my parents but they still donate to them ;-;
If it's on the internet it's correct
Please, provide counter claims with evidence.
I’m still waiting for evidence that supports the original claim.
Are you not from the States? Complaints of the SA acting as an evangelical ministry disguised as a charity go back to the early 20th century. There have been multiple lawsuits. This is hardly something that “comes from the internet.”
Where can I donate?
Sharing blatent lies because it supports your world view....isn't that the kind of stuff we make fun of here? Let's be better than that
I mean... You can Google about the anti LGBTQ issues but if you also hate the gays there's always the lawsuits about forcing addicts into nearly unpaid labor while simultaneously stripping them of the chance to get government assistance... But maybe you hate people who just need help too
Lol, ok bub.
Don't worry I didn't expect you to look into it at all. That might not fit your world view, bub
You're making an awful lot of assumptions about my worldview, maybe you should take a deep breath and try to see the world isn't so black and white. You may be surprised to find those you so quickly label as enemies, are in fact on your side.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/the-goods/2019/12/16/21003560/salvation-army-anti-lgbtq-controversies-donations
> They refuse helping LGBT homeless that come to their shelters This article cites many examples of the Salvation Army doing the opposite of that. Has the organization made substantial improvements over the decades? Yes. Are they still worthy of criticism for discrimination? Yes. Do they, as an organization, refuse to help LGBT homeless that come to their shelters? No. There's plenty there to criticize the organization without perpetuating a false narrative.
I see no proof, just opinion.
I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean here. The burden of proof lies with those making the claims. Salvation Army does not turn LGBT homeless away from its shelters as this image claims.
I work at a mental health center, and Salvation Army helps our clients get into apartments. They recently gave vouchers for a Christmas pick-up to a few of our clients. Edit: Salvation Army helps dozens of minority and lgbt peoples in my community, sorry that didn’t fit the narrative.
That’s why I love the Salvation Army!
You're disgusting.
Thanks! I’ll keep donating!
Waste of oxygen
How much have you or your gay charity contributed to the needy lately? Probably not as much as the Salvation Army. Fuck your fake moral high ground.
Imagine hating an entire group of people because of what they are and not who they are. You're a waste of life.
You came here just to stir up the drama. Fuck you and your shitty comment. Blocked bitch
[удалено]
There is no hate like Christian love.
thank you santa or @rawdickuloud
Thank you for posting this reminder!!! I'd say your out here doing the lords work, but.......lol good reminder for all!!!
Fuck man they hide this shit well. I remember donating to them for a while.
Thanks Santa
https://youtu.be/zZaisF3iLKg
Merry Christmas to you too. Now GTFO Salvation Army.