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

[surfinpure]

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

I don’t know about ths SA, but I saw the report that came out on the Goodwill top execs last year, and it was staggering. I admit that I know nothing of their charity work, but I know they turn a gi-normous profit

I enjoy shopping at our local store, but I don’t give them my donations. I usually donate to the Women’s Crisis Center, which is a local charity here.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Do you make any distinctions between these organizations when you donate items or shop at their thrift stores? Nobody can deny that all four do wonderful corporal works of mercy, but there are religious differences. The Salvation Army, many people seem to forget, is a Protestant ecclesial community.

From the St. Vincent dePaul website:
“Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.”

From the Salvation Army website:
“The Salvation Army is a worldwide evangelical Christian church with its own distinctive governance and practice…We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.”

From the Goodwill website:
“Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator.” (I don’t think that Goodwill is associated with the Methodist ecclesial community any more, however.)

Purple Heart seems to be a secular organization.

All things being equal, I think we should support the Society of St. Vincent dePaul before the others.

Not really, personally it comes down to first the availability of each. Often Goodwill and Salvation Army are closer than a St Vincent de Paul. Then it comes down to what each one is willing to take. Some may turn away things and others accept things. They all go to good causes and I do not choose one or another based on a institutional religious background of a charity.

 

[ElizabethPH]

We don’t have a Vinnies. I usually give things to SA. Also there is another thrift store in town that I love going to and think it’s better then SA (better prices) they are affiliated with a seniors hospital. I often give to them. I’d say if we had a Vinnies I would certainly give to them as well as the others.

 

[Kielbasi]

There are no VdP shops in my area. The SA is rather pricey, plus I’m not crazy about the idea that their clients who work in the shop get only meals and a bed in return but no pay – they should get something.

Salvation Army clients do receive a small pay ($10-$20/wk) here in Pittsburgh. Its part of their method for treating alcoholics, they call it “work therapy”.

Goodwill clients also get paid , its called a “sheltered workshop”. Most of their clients also receive disability checks from the govt. and live outside the facility.