casey wrote:
I have always been a believer, in helping the less fortunate when I can.

This year, I feel like being Scrooge!

Our company usually "adopts" 2 families at Christmas. After having my
company not matching my 401, it was a hit to me. Same with having wages
frozen for 2 years, and having to take 10 days per year not paid, plus
giving up 5 personnel days a year. I'm short 3 weeks pay, plus no 401
matching.

Our "boss" said the families we adopted needs cash. WTF?? I have some extra
food I can share, and a couple of new sweaters I'm willing to provide. My
boss says this is unacceptable. The families need to have cash, so they can
buy for their children. I have no idea what the money will go for, drugs
maybe? Besides, I don't have extra cash.

I contacted the Red-X. Said I have food & some new clothes to donate. They
said they have plenty of food & clothes, they need cash. This is no joke,
they actually told me this!

Helping the less fortunate? Since when have people decide what they will
accept as gifts? Bah Humbug, I don't need this crap.


Yeah, we get that at our office too, though thankfully I haven't been
put through the wringer like you have. I always felt these 'adopt a
family' things were more for the benefit of the donors, to get a warm
fuzzy feeling, and less for the donees, who in a couple of weeks will be
right back where they started. I saw the listings for the families to be
adopted, and judging from the clothes sizes and requested items alone,
they ain't starving or between a rock and hard place for basic
neccessities. Besides, I have my own under-employed and semi-functional
siblings to play safety net to. I prefer to donate my money to actual
charities.

As to the Red-X folks- 'Stuff' is actually more trouble than it is worth
to them, especially in post-disaster situations. Sorting, de-crapping,
containerizing, and then re-shipping all that stuff costs a fortune.
Same for for food drives. Much more bang for the buck for the
organization and the people they are trying to help, to put together
cash to get new goods and supplies in pallet lots, drop-shipped from the
vendor directly to where it is needed. Around here, the charities do
hold the coat/new toy drives for local distribution, and have a
furniture/household goods lending closet for families that suffer fires,
or abused women setting up new households and such, but they have
strongly de-emphasised 'stuff' donations for other activities.

--
aem sends...