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Hey, randunel, thanks for mentioning the American Red Cross! In fact, I have anecdotes about them as well! So about two weeks into the COVID-19 lockdowns, one
by NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
Hey, randunel, thanks for mentioning the American Red Cross! In fact, I have anecdotes about them as well!
So about two weeks into the COVID-19 lockdowns, one of my upstairs neighbors set his apartment, and the unit next door, on fire. Like a big fire. The resultant fire, smoke, and water damage affected six units altogether, and the American Red Cross was right there on the scene, to render assistance and ensure that these families would not be turned out onto the streets. I didn't look closely at the news reports, but I didn't see any mention of randunel being there to help.
Then last year, an ex of mine suffered a fire in her very own flat in SF. She has been disabled with a major stroke, and her roommate was also displaced, escaping with only what they could carry and their cats. After the fire was doused, thieves wasted no time in breaking in to take whatever wasn't nailed down. Again, the American Red Cross was on the scene (randunel conspicuously absent) and a GoFundMe was launched.
As I stuck to my principles of donating to the best agency possible, I decided to send a few bucks to the AMR. In fact, I accidentally donated first to my local AMR, and then I doubled that by donating to the correct regional one in charge of San Francisco. I thought it to be quite appropriate to give back a little, since after all, they had helped my neighbors in need not long ago.
So if it weren't for the American Red Cross and their good deeds, many Americans would be homeless and lost after disasters, and I'm thankful to them for being there in our times of need.
- SapporoChris 3y agoThe grandparent spoke of corruption. In your comment you ignored the corruption comment and instead commented how your community had benefited and that therefore you supported the organization. By not addressing the corruption it could be interpreted that you're okay with corruption as long as you benefit from it. Was that your intention?
- NoZebra120vClip 3y agoalleged, unsubstantiated corruption, is that what you meant to write?
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- Retric 3y agoEhh, the Red Cross’s budget is 3 Billion and they spend 670 million on disaster relief and 360 million on admin. If your goal is to support disaster relief then they are an inefficient use of your resources. However, they also run blood drives and then sell the blood which is part of their overall budget independent of donations. $921 million is just salaries for people running blood drives, with similar expenses for overhead on supplies and equipment.
- roenxi 3y agoIn fairness, internal combustion engines are an inefficient use of resources. They just happen to be the best option. It is basically impossible to design an organisation that directs resources to economically unproductive people. $700 / $3,000 going to the right spot could be reasonably effective. I mean, at least the Red Cross won't take a fraction of the money and use it to fund ruinous, murderous and pointless rampages across Afghanistan. So they're doing better than the US government. And I think they might be outperforming the major churches for number of abuse scandals although that sort of thing is hard to measure. So it is less efficient than personally doing something locally, but if the local community is going OK then I could imagine the Red Cross might be the next best alternative.
- MichaelZuo 3y agoSpending only $700 out of $3000 on the stated mission is doing a decent job, since when?
- Retric 3y agoThey aren’t allocating 2/3 of monetary donations to blood drives. Running blood drives is a major part of their mission, it’s also largely self sustaining because they are selling the blood.