I thought because its the holidays and ALOT of people are in need this year of financial and food assistance, what charitable organizations do you help and which ones your cynical of and or skeptical of?

What organizations do you give to or support?

Which organizations do you not have trust or faith in?

Many here know my story. Here is an update and why I am seeking opinions on this topic.

Since October I have been volunteering at the Salem Salvation Army Food Bank. It has allowed me to stay busy and active which is something new for me. It has also gotten me out of the funk/depression I was in for a very long time. More active for me equals less pain.

I have learned alot about the Salvation Army and there organization in recent months and it has also let me reexamine my own priorities.

I support Doctors without Borders as a "global" charity, and Oregon Food Bank locally. I have done volunteer work for Potluck in the Park.

I am cynical of/skeptical of any organization which uses aid/charity as a tool to proselytize or promote a religous viewpoint, and organizations like the Salvation Army which have a message of non-inclusion.

And I have lost all trust in the American Red Cross. Just too many missteps from 9-11 to Katrina.

Your local food bank, local Union Gospel Missions, Salvation Army, local church that has a long established credible service to the poor in community.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is probably the only charity I will ever give to again.

the ADA (American Diabetes Association) is a crock because their mission statement is to help people live with the disease. Fine. But I want a cure damnit.

The Red Cross is also on my do not donate list. I did after 9/11, never again.

TDanner writes: "I am cynical of/skeptical of any organization which uses aid/charity as a tool to proselytize or promote a religous viewpoint, and organizations like the Salvation Army which have a message of non-inclusion."

Nope I have not seen ANY non-inclusion thus far with Salvation Army in fact last night I attended a Christmas party of the guy who suggested to me that I volunteer along side him. He was my supervisor the last two summers at the Oregon State Fair.

He just happens to be openly gay. And last night along with our collegues and his gay friends we all celebrated together!

I have seen how lives are transformed. Even drug addicts being given more than second chances to get clean.

I have not been proselytized to once since I have been there. So I would say that NO they are indeed inclusive of all.

So many worthy causes it's great to see how people are getting involved.

Shyguy I'm proud of you for wanting to find a way to make a difference. Sometimes you see it directly other times you don't really know the impact you're having on someone. That fact that you want to help is the biggest step.

My parents taught us kids growing up that it's not about you, it's not about me, it's not about them.....it's about US!! When we help each other we connect with all of humanity, in big and small ways.

I can truly understand TDanners skepticism about religious organizations and some deserve it, however since the early church of the first century, social justice has always been apart of its doctrine.

My wife and I have supported places like:

The Healing Circle/VOCA Camp-they work with physically and sexually abused children of Clatsop County.

World Vision-We sponsor a child from Ghana

Operation Nightwatch-An organization near and dear to my parents

Small Change-Helping to bring hydration packets to starving people. Without proper hydration food does not assimilate into your system and you still starve.

Mercy Corp- Love this local organization.

Plus we have two memorial scholarship funds in honor of my sister through my college and a scholarship fund in memory of my mother through the seminary where she met my dad. These funds are set up to help students develop skills that they can take into the world and make a positive difference.

And during these hard economic times....

How about free clothes? Check out www.pdxswap.com.

One person's junk-another person's treasure. Look into www.freecycle.org.

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As Margaret Mead so beautifully stated: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

It's great to witness even in our small message board community a willingness to be helpful. You are all making a difference.

Chris, you and Barb are top notch people. Blessings to you this Holiday season.

Shyguy - a quick web search turns up dozens of articles, including the following...

The Salvation Army, which receives nearly $300 million a year in U.S. government money, does not discriminate in delivering its services but advocates against imposing "the category of sexual orientation to the list of anti-discrimination protections" by states and cities as well as against "equal benefits to domestic partnership". The Salvation Army does not hire people who are known to be gay and fires those who are gay when legally allowed to do so.

The Salvation Army states "scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life" on it's website.

Inclusive toward all, my ***!

I'm disappointed to read this from the Salvation Army. However Tdanner many Christian organizations, churches and individuals don't hold the same discrimination or narrow view of scriptures.

I'm disappointed too.

I think I'll print out a few copies of a statement as to why I'm not donating anymore and put them in the pot instead of my loose change.

Instead, I'll increase my donation to the food bank where my wife volunteers.

Easy solution. Don't like their position, don't support them. No need to bad mouth them. You do for yours, someone else does for theirs. Everybody happy.

>>churches and individuals don't hold the same discrimination or narrow view of scriptures

remember Sodom and Gomorrah...

I rest my case.

The Salvation Army, which receives nearly $300 million a year in U.S. government money...

This good. Should be more.

If the taxpayers can fund Planned Parenthood, then we can fund the Salvation Army too.

Ugh...

Shyguy, I'm glad you are finding the work rewarding, and that it's doing some good.

I am very guarded of these organizations. A lot of the people in them are people just like you! They want to help, maybe need to help, and that's all good.

Just don't get sucked into the greater politics of the thing and you should be golden.

It's easy to abuse the needy. They are there for help, and need it, and are somewhat captive. It's a perfect platform for the "holier than thou" types to push bad things, and claim they are doing good when attacked.

Messy.

I personally rarely give, preferring to choose local, smaller groups, or help people directly.

The discrimination bit is a major bummer too. Seems that's the battle of our times. Roger and Broadway, we don't get advances in civil rights and maintain human rights unless we speak up.

Remember: If we let the bigot feel good about being a bigot, we end up living in a world filled with bigots! That's rough, but that's how it is.

Speak or be spoken for. It's easier to be a bigot, then it is to do the work to deal with your self issues and get along with people. The default then is that we don't get along on a major scale, and that starts wars, harms people and you know the rest.

I'll speak. It's easy to say their position on discrimination is wrong. I vote with my feet too, and will likely do exactly what Amus is gonna do.

Making people aware of the politics of the organization isn't a bad thing. Like I wrote above, that's not all the people in it. Many of them are just trying to give something back and do some good.

More power to 'em!

If, the group finds their ability to leverage these people impacted by shitty politics, then perhaps they will reconsider said shitty politics.

Doing good work isn't a shield. Trust me, that gets brought up every single time. IMHO, that's an abuse of the needy, and something I personally consider on par with criminal behavior.

We don't discriminate against people here. That's how it is.

TDanner thanks for bringing this to my attention. I have seen some mismanagement and some just recent yet very rare instances of holier than thou attitude or at least appearence of such.

Just last week in the building I work in we had a advisory board meeting. It was a bunch of "soldiers" ie fully committed uniformed members attending yet I had not seen the majority of these people ever before. And that smacked to me as a "we are above the rest" type attitude. I mean shouldn't you also be doing basically the same thing I am doing. Which is to say "serve" and put in the man hours to help the organization and not just show up quarterly for meetings?

But yes I do plan on staying out of the politics, and I hate cliques and would rather hang out and be friendly and or dislike everyone on the same level.

I guess this is why I have never embraced or supported religion in my adult life.

The goal and my wishes are to get a paid position within the organization in the fall when the Salem SA Kroc Center opens. Which will employ aprox 100 pt and ft employees. I figured that if I put the volunteer hours in now it would be a benefit to me later.

I have also decided to return to school in the fall and get a human services degree. As I always knew I was supposed to serve I just always thought my place was going to be in the hospitality industry and not in the non profit sector.

If all else fails and I have a falling out with the Salvation Army because indeed they are discriminatory and "non-inclusive" I am sure I can find a charitable non profit in this area who are not a religous organization, I just wish Salem had something similar to Portland's Sisters of the Road. Because am I correct in assumming they are not a religous organization.

Help because you want not because you feel compelled!

Skyguy your heart to serve and help others is deeply inspiring. That kind of attitude will rise above any BS that surrounds certain religious or poorly run organizations.

I think it will lead you to where you can use your skills and passions that will make a difference. And not to come off sounding all preachy and holier than thou, but at the heart of Jesus' ministry was serving. Whether you believe or not is not the important thing, it's that your doing.

Thanks for keeping it real Shy.

I do it because I see a need. I am very blessed to have had and continue to have the basic neccessities of living. However I could easily be homeless if I did not have parents who care and are able to financially support me. Post cornea transplant and post hospital from this spring has allowed me and in some ways forced me to look at life in another manner.

I admire those of faith who don't just wear there faith on their sleeve. They walk the walk and talk the talk without coming off as shove it down your throat preachy.

FYI for those of you thinking of giving this season to a charitable organization that help those that are in need remember what is lacking: baby supplies, sources of protein, and personal hygiene toiletries.