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Salvation Army questions competing charities
Lodi Salvation Army officials have noticed what they believe are out-of-town organizations competing for charity dollars in front of local stores this year. And they question the legitimacy of the organizations themselves.
One such organization is called the Missionary Church of the Disciples of Jesus Christ, based in Covina in Southern California. A representative had a table set up in front of Target on Sunday.
The man collecting money from the organization didn't seem to understand English. When asked about the organization, he was only able to say that Covina was the church's corporate headquarters.
An Internet search indicated that a church with the same name in Covina has 17 locations throughout California and east to Florida. Stockton is the nearest location to Lodi. Its Web site reports that the church has outreach and food distribution ministries along with a disaster relief program. No one was available for comment Tuesday afternoon at the Stockton or Covina headquarters.
Also Sunday, another group known as Helping Hands had set up shop in front of Target with a sign saying it supports the homeless. No one from the group was stationed at Target on Tuesday, but solicitors for Helping Hands were found outside Big Kmart on Cherokee Lane and the 99 Cents Store on Kettleman Lane.
Helping Hands representatives at both locations declined to give their names and finally told a reporter he was asking too many questions. The representative at the 99 Cents Store said that he is a volunteer for the Stockton-based organization. The one at Big Kmart, who said he is a Helping Hands employee, said that Helping Hands is based in Oakland and raises money for women's and children's shelters throughout California.
Salvation Army Lt. Dan Williams said he has approached several representatives of the group throughout the holiday season, and they have given him and his volunteers conflicting information.
Regardless, Williams said, "They're not helping the homeless in Lodi and the shelter in Lodi."
Salvation Army volunteers don't even ask anyone for money like the other organizations that set up shop in front of stores.
"We ring the bell; they know who we are," he said.
Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.
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Lodian wrote on Jan 1, 2009 9:05 PM:
Begsbelief: Many of us here have long thought that he is still in the closet, and very frustrated. "
Lodian wrote on Jan 1, 2009 9:03 PM:
" The guy that is with helping hands in front of the 99C store is rude. I always give to Salvation Army but when I declined to give to his charity he told me "dont you care about homeless people". I told him yes I do and that is why I give to the Salvation Army. I dont know what organization would check in the legitimacy of these organizations but someone needs to check that they are valid. "
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You're right. And I doubt that any charity would advocate such remarks towards people coming out of the store. That was highly inappropriate.
Happy New Year! :-) "
Begsbelief wrote on Jan 1, 2009 5:12 AM:
" Going back to the article, there have been warnings across the country not to give to unfamiliar organizations since there are scammers out there. Do some research first before you donate money or goods to anyone to make sure it goes to who it's intended for.
A couple of years ago there were folks selling bogus coupon books door to door in our area with phony coupons for real businesses. It was a pain not only for those who were duped, but the businesses as well. "
~~~~~~~~
Good advice. "
WCPatty wrote on Dec 31, 2008 5:57 PM:
A couple of years ago there were folks selling bogus coupon books door to door in our area with phony coupons for real businesses. It was a pain not only for those who were duped, but the businesses as well. "
Begsbelief wrote on Dec 31, 2008 4:39 PM:
" Perhaps the Salvation Army has assumed the role of Charity Police; assessing the worthiness of other organizations to solicit donations."
Didn't know they were soliciting donations.LOL. Isn't that illegal?.
"real facts Dec 31, 2008 3:57 PM:
oh yeah, your too busy trashing everything that's pure on these boards to allow yourself time to SERVE OTHERS
as usual, your a joke of a human being "
~~~~~~~
Do you fancy Billy or something? Love is a very funny thing. As for trashing everything pure on here. Are you speaking from experience? Guess I was the wrong sex.still pure. "
real facts wrote on Dec 31, 2008 3:57 PM:
in the meantime billy, maybe you can expound for comedic purposes all your "philanthropic" endeavors where YOU make the world a better place by helping others.
oh yeah, your too busy trashing everything that's pure on these boards to allow yourself time to SERVE OTHERS
as usual, your a joke of a human being "
Billy Rubin wrote on Dec 31, 2008 10:27 AM:
BegsBelief wrote on Dec 30, 2008 5:25 PM:
Does appear a little high and mighty of Lt. Dan Williams to feel he has the right to question others collecting money. Is there only needy people and salvation army officer collecting in Lodi?
Good will to all men. Charity starts at home but it should not stop there. "
real facts wrote on Dec 28, 2008 10:04 AM:
that's why i devote myself to taking out your ongoing trash
tell us billy, when was last time you said anything that wasn't sarcastic or caustic.
whatever happened to you as a child ISN'T a license for your nasty behavior today
and NO, your not a "victim" "
Billy Rubin wrote on Dec 26, 2008 12:36 PM:
Who are your speaking of, Reverend? Mad Dog? Yeah, you gotta get up pretty early to beat him to the punch. He's an early bird. "
real facts wrote on Dec 24, 2008 10:15 PM:
anyway, billy would cheat at around 16 paces. it's who he is
BTW, if you could "convince" billy to not troll around and take his nasty swipes at all things "God", then there would be no "me"
take a look at who posted first (again) "
bobbyg wrote on Dec 24, 2008 7:01 PM:
dogs4you wrote on Dec 24, 2008 4:57 PM:
real facts wrote on Dec 24, 2008 3:53 PM:
nope billy, it's just status-me-quo.
i never did have a problem telling the truth about you or anyone else, whether they are masquerading as a "Christian" OR a "human being"
although i celebrate Christmas EVERYDAY, i am in an especially giving mood - is there anything else i can help you with?
anything about your past life that led you to your present life that i can help you get over? "
Billy Rubin wrote on Dec 24, 2008 2:22 PM:
" FYI, the Missionary Church of the Disciples of Jesus Christ is a straight up cult.
if you pay any attention to them at all, hardly any of them do know english, and they have that blinded zombi follow anything that the leader says - look in their eyes. it's not a generalization, it's true.
you can always tell a cult when the person you are talking to "refuses" to explain what he/they believe "
An uncommonlly accurate observation Reverend Zombiecakes. Is this the beginning of an awakening for you? "
real facts wrote on Dec 24, 2008 12:15 PM:
if you pay any attention to them at all, hardly any of them do know english, and they have that blinded zombi follow anything that the leader says - look in their eyes. it's not a generalization, it's true.
you can always tell a cult when the person you are talking to "refuses" to explain what he/they believe "
bobbyg wrote on Dec 24, 2008 11:28 AM:
PAL wrote on Dec 24, 2008 11:11 AM:
loadeye wrote on Dec 24, 2008 10:13 AM:
LodiSafeway wrote on Dec 24, 2008 9:48 AM:
While it could be taken that the Salvation Army is only whining about not receiving what they believe to be rightfully theirs, I suspect that the opposite is true. They simply want to ensure that when people give, they know where their donations are going - to those truly in need.
The two "charities" mentioned, Helping Hands and Covina could very well be legitimate charities. Is it really wrong for another charity to question the validity of others? I believe it's healthy. "
Billy Rubin wrote on Dec 24, 2008 8:46 AM:
Mad Dog wrote on Dec 24, 2008 2:37 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.