Thrift stores: Society of St. Vincent dePaul vs. Salvation Army vs. Goodwill vs. Purple Heart

[Cathy]

My preference is St. Vincent de Paul. I joined the Catholic Church after serving a year as a local officer in the Salvation Army. I loved my time in the Salvation Army, and it was there that I learned to believe in the Bible again after years of liberal Protestantism in mainline churches. But I encounered an attitude in several people in my local Salvation Army Church that we had to save those Catholics from the misguided, and “probably-not-even-Christian” Catholic Church. I can see that part of what caused their misunderstanding was the people who called themselves Catholic who didn’t know much at all about the Catholic Faith, seldom darkened the doors of any Catholic Church, and didn’t own a copy of the Bible, let alone read it. So from the viewpoint of the Salvation Army, I got a pretty distorted view of the Catholic Faith…until I needed help for a pregnant woman whom I met in front of an abortion mill. The Salvation Army couldn’t fill all of her needs, but the people of St. Vincent de Paul, and other serious Catholics did. I’m now that baby’s Catholc godmother, thanks to God and a lot of loving Catholics who do know and practice their Faith.

 

[Lepanto]

When I have donated large items (furniture, TVs), I have given it to the Salvation Army. The SVDP does not come to one’s house and pick up these items, but the Salvation Army does.

This must be a local thing. I moved a few years ago, and the regional SVdP sends trucks to homes to pick up anything from bags of clothes to furniture. I called them to my house three times that year.

 

[vz71]

This must be a local thing. I moved a few years ago, and the regional SVdP sends trucks to homes to pick up anything from bags of clothes to furniture. I called them to my house three times that year.

Costs of gas being a major factor, it is extremely rare that goodwill will pick up anymore.

 

[Newbie2]

Why does it matter where your charity goes as long as it helps the poor? Read the letter to the chruch of Ephesus in Revelations. I didn’t say you’re supposed to just help the members of your own Church but help everyone. This is Christian love.

I gotta agree. It would be different if there were serious questions, like does any of the money go to support pro-abortion causes, etc., but this isn’t the case.

 

[Lepanto]

But all else being equal, why not support a Catholic apostolate instead of a Protestant or a secular one?

 

[goofyjim]

But all else being equal, why not support a Catholic apostolate instead of a Protestant or a secular one?

If all things are equal, it still shouldn’t matter. Is there any evidence that one helps the poor more than the other? No. So if there is no difference you go with whatever. It’s like Coke versus Pepsi versus the store brand. Guess what. The store brand doesn’t taste different and costs less. Coke and Pepsi costs the same so if you want one of them, and they are both bad for you, why does it matter how you spend your money on either one. I digress. My apologies for longwindedness.

 

[Lepanto]

If all things are equal, it still shouldn’t matter. Is there any evidence that one helps the poor more than the other? No. So if there is no difference you go with whatever. It’s like Coke versus Pepsi versus the store brand. Guess what. The store brand doesn’t taste different and costs less. Coke and Pepsi costs the same so if you want one of them, and they are both bad for you, why does it matter how you spend your money on either one. I digress. My apologies for longwindedness.

But there is a difference. One is Catholic and the others are not. That should be sufficient reason, all else being equal.

 

[goofyjim]

But there is a difference. One is Catholic and the others are not. That should be sufficient reason, all else being equal.

No that is saying Catholics should only support Catholic charitable organizations. We are called to help all organizations equally not just the Catholic ones. Read the letter to the church of Ephesus in Revelations and let me know what you think.

 

[St_Francis]

But all else being equal, why not support a Catholic apostolate instead of a Protestant or a secular one?

I think that what people are saying is that all things are not equal, ie, one person said that SVdP won’t pick up but Goodwill will. Several have commented that there is no SVdP in their area. Still others have said that they will shop at SVdP but that other places might have more of what they need.

So, sure, I think that if all else were equal, people would, but all else isn’t so they don’t.

 

[goofyjim]

I think that what people are saying is that all things are not equal, ie, one person said that SVdP won’t pick up but Goodwill will. Several have commented that there is no SVdP in their area. Still others have said that they will shop at SVdP but that other places might have more of what they need.

So, sure, I think that if all else were equal, people would, but all else isn’t so they don’t.

No what I am saying there is no reason whatever, all things being equal, to support only the Catholic agency. It becomes self contained charity. Our charity must extend beyond just our Catholic ieghbor or agency. Is that really all we see Christ in?

 

[Newbie2]

No that is saying Catholics should only support Catholic charitable organizations. We are called to help all organizations equally not just the Catholic ones. Read the letter to the church of Ephesus in Revelations and let me know what you think.

No, we are called to help all ***people ***equally.
Ephesians says nothing about organizations, does it?

 

[Sheeniac]

No what I am saying there is no reason whatever, all things being equal, to support only the Catholic agency. It becomes self contained charity. Our charity must extend beyond just our Catholic ieghbor or agency. Is that really all we see Christ in?

I believe that you are confusing the ends with the means (in your argument). The end is helping people - so by definition my charity does help everyone from the atheist to the fundamentalist - anyone who gets help from the Catholic agency or charity.

The means - whatever agency we support/donate to. I believe that we should support the Church in what she does over non-Church charities when reasonably possible (i.e. “all things being equal”). Using the Church as a conduit is not self-contained charity or not seeing Christ beyond Catholics.

I’m not elevating this to doctrine, but I can’t understand why one would choose a non-Catholic org over a Catholic org if there was no difference in effort. I mean - a proactive reason unlike many of the ones offered on this thread (e.g. no pick-up available, etc).

 

[goofyjim]

No, we are called to help all ***people ***equally.
Ephesians says nothing about organizations, does it?

I can help all organizations equally as well. And I will. All things being equal it doesn’t matter which organization you contribute to. There is no moral requirement to contribute only to a Catholic organization.

 

[goofyjim]

I believe that you are confusing the ends with the means (in your argument). The end is helping people - so by definition my charity does help everyone from the atheist to the fundamentalist - anyone who gets help from the Catholic agency or charity.

The means - whatever agency we support/donate to. I believe that we should support the Church in what she does over non-Church charities when reasonably possible (i.e. “all things being equal”). Using the Church as a conduit is not self-contained charity or not seeing Christ beyond Catholics.

I’m not elevating this to doctrine, but I can’t understand why one would choose a non-Catholic org over a Catholic org if there was no difference in effort. I mean - a proactive reason unlike many of the ones offered on this thread (e.g. no pick-up available, etc).

I choose to be charitable to whomever I please. It is the charity that is needed not just to Catholic organizations or people.

 

[Sheeniac]

I choose to be charitable to whomever I please. It is the charity that is needed not just to Catholic organizations or people.

What a way to not reply to anything specific in my post. Why did you waste your time?

 

[St_Francis]

No what I am saying there is no reason whatever, all things being equal, to support only the Catholic agency. It becomes self contained charity. Our charity must extend beyond just our Catholic ieghbor or agency. Is that really all we see Christ in?

Sorry, I misunderstood you. Anyway, all else being equal, I would choose the Catholic charity to support, because I know that they would help everyone, not restrict themselves to Catholics, and I think that the more people who are helped by Catholics, the better.

 

[goofyjim]

Sorry, I misunderstood you. Anyway, all else being equal, I would choose the Catholic charity to support, because I know that they would help everyone, not restrict themselves to Catholics, and I think that the more people who are helped by Catholics, the better.

You’re assuming the protestant charities restrict themselves to protestants. They don’t. I think the more people that are helped by any organization the better. It’s not like the only ones that should exist are the Catholic ones. They are all doing an equally good service. And they all deserve equal time. Well to each his own. I won’t lose any sleep at night knowing that I give indiscriminately.

 

[Cathy]

my cousin is an SA officer who has managed red shield stores for many years in several cities. budget, administration, operations etc. of the stores, and the shelters they support, is kept entirely separate from the local corps (the actual SA worship community). Insofar as the stores give employment to residents of the shelters and support their work with addicts and alcoholics, some of their work with these people does have a strong spiritual component and evangelization which of course is in their faith tradition (actually somewhat non-denom) but no, your money is not going directly to advance their religion. there have been cases in local situations where this divide has been breached due to bad management, but the SA addresses and corrects these abuses when they occur. This happens most often when local corps divert Christmas kettle collections which are supposed to be used for the SA relief and charitable outreaches to their local worship center, but when that does happen it does so in violation of the SA policy.QUOTE]

The Salvation Army is not “somewhat non-denom,” but rather a definite denomination, called “Salvationist.” They were founded by William Booth, a Methodist minister who wanted to minister to alcoholics and others who were not warmly welcomed in many Methodist churches in his native England. Losing his Methodist affiliation, he lost the notion of the importance of a single sacrament. So salvationists teach that no sacrament is needed for salvation, and they misuse and misinterpret the Bible to justify this false teaching. Complicating this teaching is the prejudice shared by many individual Salvationists against the Catholic Church. Thus some consider it their duty to convert Catholics from their so-called false religion to Salvationism. This was true of my commanding officer when I was a local officer. It was also true of my son’s Sunday school teacher, an ex-Catholic who caused my 12-year-old son much anguish when I converted to the Catholic Faith.

 

[Cactus]

Last time I checked, the president of the SA is a multi multi millionaire.

This is a very questionable statement. Perhaps you are confusing them with the United Way, which has had some problems with outlandish salaries.

The Salvation Army officers are people of very modest means. Many of them live very holy lives. My journey to the Catholic Faith made a brief stop in the Salvation Army. I was received into the Army by General Jarl Wahlstrom. He was certainly not a wealthy man. I know the organization is very deficient in its complete lack of understanding of the sacraments. A few of the officers I knew had been baptized “just in case” but some others will have to hope in the efficacy of the “baptism of desire”. I had been accepted into the School for Officer Training in Atlanta and was ready to go. A wise and devout officer sensed that I was not quite ready and counseled me to delay. One thing led to another and I am now a Catholic. I very much appreciate the work of the Salvation Army among the most marginalised in society and admire the officers who eek out a very modest living (without much recognition) serving the poor. Even though I am no longer part of the Army I pray for them and hold them in the highest respect.

 

[RachelsAlumni]

I frequent Thrift stores and look for the best value, best product for the best price. I usually find this at either Purple Heart (where I got a set of collector dishes) or Salvation Army (best selection of furniture & clothing). Goodwill is the most expensive and SVdP has a very poor selection.

As far as donating goes: Years ago I sold my 2400 sq ft home and was moving into a 1200 sq ft home. I had entire rooms of furniture to donate. I called around to all these thrift stores and the only one that would accomodate me and came out to my house with a big truck to pick up all my stuff (it took 2 truck loads) was St. Vincent de Paul.

Salvation Army was too picky, they would only take certain items that they were in need of (if they already had plenty of refrigerators they wouldn’t take anymore regardless of condition)

Goodwill would only come out on their regular schedule for my area which wouldn’t be until after I moved.

The St. Vincent de Paul in my area is huge. Here are just a few of Fr. Joe Carroll’s facilities in my area:

Father Joe’s Villages:
Joan Kroc Center - transitional housing for women and children.

• An average of 313 family members and single women receive transitional housing each night.
• Approximately 160 children are housed nightly with their families.
• 1,400 daily meals served to residents on average
• Day Center provides showers to non-residents seven days a week
• Residential and commercial laundries

The Bishop Maher Center (BMC) - a residential facility housing 150 single men each night.

Martha’s Kitchen