Photo by Alphonso Morgan
This is a topic I've written about multiple times, but I wanted to share this piece on exactly what happens when people "donate" items to the Salvation Army on H Street after hours. This story from the Revelstoke Current isn't local, but it covers the same issues. I speak from experience, having logged many hours volunteering as a sorter for various charities. I will say that I suspect some of the tvs do find buyers, but I've seen ancient computers with the hard drives removed, and pieces of furniture. If you illegally dump after hours (and that is what happens) people rip open and pick through the bags of stuff. It gets strewn about, and possibly rained upon. It looks trashy, and brings down the look of the whole 1300 block of H Street.
12 comments:
Not only that, but the stores for organizations such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill are a big part of what funds the other services that are provided. They actually want to attract as many buyers as possible to come in and make a purchase.
Hmm, I feel torn about this. On one hand I agree dumping is terrible. On the other there are some good Sunday Morning finds (This reminds me I need to bake something out of that cookbook).
To Anon 11:08 PM - Agreed, but if someone is very concerned about the funding of either organization they can donate money. Cash donations have much less overhead expense than running a store.
Most of us do what is convenient for us, to hell with everyone else and the neighborhood. It's just what people do. I recently learned that the Salvation Army no longer takes donations at the H St. location anyway you have to drive somewhere else. This unfortunatly means we'll see more dumping.
On H street not taking donations anymore... I'm torn. Now the stuff just goes on the street or freecycle. I wish there was a way to get it to SA, but I'm not driving to MD to give you my stuff.
You can donate at Goodwill over on South Dakota ave. not that far of a drive
There is also a thritf-type store on H between 14-15th that takes donations. I am not sure if it is for-profit or affiliated with some charity (it is kind of creepy and there are bible hymns playing over a loud speaker whenever I go in), but if you're just looking to get rid of some things that you don't want to throw out it's in the immediate area.
it's a damned shame when folks be throwin' away a perfectly good white boy like that.
Inked-
you should offer a post as to "why you shouldn't dump (your own human feces) in the alley between 8th and 7th"
Revelstoke, BC has a lot to teach Atlas, DC.
One can also leave a cash donation, that's true, but the stores are operated specifically as a money generator. Many people have the misconception that the stores are run primarily for the people who receive services from the organizations, which is not true. Not dumping outside of one of these places and giving a cash donation are not mutually exclusive.
bedbugs.
What if you affix a sign by taking a Sharpie and writing "FREE" on the top of a pizza box?
Post a Comment