As BEMike said in another thread, people are pigs.
Made my semi-annual trip to Goodwill to donate some clothing and household items no longer needed.
Got to speaking to one of the employees about "how's things goin'". She proceeded to tell me about the "quality" of donations nowadays. Needless to say, I was stunned.
Seeing as that Goodwill does not open the bags upon receiving them, as they're too busy, they allow folks to drop em' off and get a receipt. Goodwill writes on the receipt the number of bags dropped off.
What are some "donating"? How about household garbage, items such as rags, sanitary napkins, food scraps, etc? Goodwill receives bags loaded with this stuff, the offender receives a tax writeoff for " X amount of bags of clothes".
Another gent came in with " $2700 worth of fine suits and clothing". When the bags were opened, found inside were socks with holes, shirts with ring around the collar and stains, and soiled underwear.
Not only are these people cheating those in need, but they're cheating on their taxes by claiming deductions not entitled to. So in effect, we're all paying for this.
And NO, I didn't drop off junk.

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Sure you did

The Sioux are among the poorest people in the United States. Yet, every time I visit my adopted Sioux family in South Dakota, there is at least one "giveaway." In their traditional culture, it is considered a shameful thing to own more than one needs, and one earns merit by giving away not junk, but the best you have. Give-aways are held to commemorate important events, such a marriage, a spiritual adoption, or the safe return home of a warrior/serviceman or woman. Real poverty is not a lack of money or material goods -- it is a lack of generosity of spirit, and that, in my view, is truly "being poor."


Bullseye

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Shameful. At least you are doing your part. Someday the "pigs" and freeloaders and criminals will outnumber the good folk. What then?

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Jon

one of my favorite Goodwill / Salvation Army offloads are DOA electronics.
For a man of my skills they are good finds since I can overhaul most of this vintage audio gear.

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it just needs more voltage

Shameful indeed. I don't know how some people can look in the mirror.

While I agree that people are pigs, the problem is also with Goodwill.

My wife was a Goodwill store manager for a few years. We both have seen what happens behind the scenes.

Goodwill is a non profit corporation. But like many big retail stores, only those in the upper echelons of management make a decent wage. Everyone else gets minimum wage.

As a result of poor pay, improper training, and high employee turnover, thing's don't get done the way they are supposed to.

When donations are dropped off, the attendant is supposed to check each and every bag or box.

Also quite often safety procedures are ignored or not enforced. Because of this, here locally a few years ago, an employee was killed by a forklift.

It is my opinion that at least here locally that Goodwill is more concerned about their public image than they are about their employees.

I no longer donate there. ST. Vincent Depaul and Salvation Army get my donations.

Mike,

Same problem here in Kentucky.

SLOBS will leave things like three-legged table after hours to avoid having to pay for disposal at the landfill.
Some mattresses left overnight probably qualify for Haz-Mat handling.

When I lost a LOT of weight, I donated several nice shirts and pants. (it was a planned diet not a medical problem)
Also bought some nice replacements in my new size from the same shop.



Bekeart

They were building a really nice retail space in my hometown (10k pop). I wondering what would be moving in, I was stunned when it was a Goodwill store.


They should have as basic a store as needed, not something that looks better than every other business in town.


On a related note, public schools do not need to look like Notre Dame, they should be square and brick, that is all. Maybe one window per class, that's all.

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I miss my 4546 the most.

Very interesting. I have become a thrift shop devotee in the last few years, I have been stunned by the high quality of items I find. Brooks Brothers suits, Italian made footwear that has been very gently worn-if at all, appliances in near mint condition.

We donate items to the local Samaritan Center. The person who donates fills out their own itemized receipt and estimated value. Store signs receipt and keeps a copy. It's pretty much on the honor system. Seems to work ok. I don't think they have the trash problems as described by the OP. Though, I hear a lot of the good stuff gets purchased by eBayers. That doesn't seem quite right but I guess it's ok since the funds go to operate food kitchens and other programs for the needy.

That's the stuff my wife donates, new or near new goods. I have to shake my head sometimes seeing what she gives away.
OTOH, I've been Blessed in life, and but for the Grace of God go I.

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Sure you did

Goodwill has a 7-7.5% administrative-overhead cost, don't know how that translates overall in the efficiency of charitable organizations. Seems pretty good to me though.

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Sure you did

In this area-Mercer County, NJ and Eastern Bucks County, Pa. the Salvation Army has closed several smaller stores and opened a large "Family Store." The economy has sent a lot of people to the the thrifts and conversely the one manager of a Salvation Army store I have gottent to know says they are operating in a somewhat more business like fashion. Good will has tag sale days, frequent buyer programs and senior citizens discounts.

he goodwill here lists price that are outrageously high for the intended consumers. i dont see how someone with a low income can afford it. i drive about 45 miles to bristol to donate to the salvation army instead.

the someday is here now. you dont have to look too long...........the scum is everywhere.. pleasure and ego are u.s.a.'s biggest industries and we do love to wallow in it.

My daughter and I took bags of decent clothing to the Salvation Army about 2 months ago, mostly my old pants and dress shirts some winter jackets and stuff. We aslo drop clothing at St. Vincent DePaul, they don't usually charge for the stuff they give out.


There is a big Goodwill store in Racine and a lot of the better quality items seem not to make it to the store that is why I stopped giving to them.

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Stan

People are pigs?

Yep, they sure are. Two families were evicted from houses across and down the street at the end of July. They have lived there for at least 10 years and never had any sort of trash pickup. Occasionally they would take a pickup load to the dump a couple times per year and they burned a lot of their garbage in a burn barrel after darkness. Their yards and driveway were frequently strewn about with junk and garbage.

We are in unincorporated county, zoned rural, outside any city limits. Because of all the garbage we have had a terrible crow problem in the area with the crows crapping on the sides of peoples houses, their cars, dragging pieces of garbage into others yards, etc. People living in homes next to them of course had problems with rodents as well. Calls to the county were met with somebody who would show up and the family would do the whole, 'no speaka English' routine and promise to do better.

The crews have been working the last three days hauling garbage truck sized loads out from behind these two homes pretty much non-stop. I knew they had a lot of junk behind the houses but I had no idea it was this bad.

These are the tires that where hauled out from the backyard.

that many tires in a decade? Good God man
Back yard chop shop?

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it just needs more voltage

Good post Bullseye!
I believe all of the Native Tribes have a word in their language for the Whites: They refer to us as "Users". The irony is today, we call ourselves consumers.

I don't know about other tribes, but in the Sioux language, the word for white people is "wasichu" (was-SEE-chu) which means, literally, "takes (even) the fat," this a reference to taking what is virtually without worth, i.e., "greedy." Having said that, you find among these folks, both those who condemn all white people, and those who judge people as individuals, whether Sioux or white. I avoid the former, whether Sioux, white, or Martian, and try to limit my associations (and certainly my friends) to the latter.


Bullseye

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Well put sir.

I used to take lots of good stuff, some new and never used, to Goodwill. They never looked in the bags and boxes. But during our flood here in Nashville, more specifically my neighborhood, I witnessed first hand which organizations were helping the most. Both by going through the neighborhood and offering help via news media. From now on my donations will go to Salvation Army.

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Misty

Same here Misty.

DG

Ditto...I almost cry when I see my bitter half hauling clothing and household stuff off to Goodwill with the price tags still on them...

During the spring clean-up here at the apt. building, the good stuff all went to Salvation Army. The junk and garbage went to the town dump.

The Salvation Army is a wonderful organization, and because there's no branch near me, I do not donate clothing or household items to them.
Not wanting to leave them out, I do drop a check in the mailbox every now and then. Same with the American Red Cross, except those donations are earmarked for American relief efforts.

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Sure you did

Local charitable shop has same situation. Employees and volunteers pick some of the better items for themselves and their friends to purchase. These items are never available for the public to buy. The staff believe that this is a fringe benefit they are entitled to for working at the shop.


I take my donations fifty miles to St. Vincent De Paul Society in Paducah, KY. There is a sign posted informing that - Employees and volunteers are NOT ALLOWED to purchase any item until it has been on display and available to the public for at least 24 hours.

The staff at St Vincent treats ALL customers with courtesy and dignity, instead of the arrogance and snobbery offered by the local charity.

Bekeart