Commenting on the Worst Good Will Donations Ever

Tori wrote an exceptionally interesting article about her experience volunteering at her local crisis shelter. Most of the article was written about things that she thought weren't very good donations. While I agree with some points of the article and that some of the donations weren't made in very good taste, I have to disagree with at least a few of her points in the article.

For example, Tori writes about someone donating Police Officer Uniforms. Luckily, the person left off the badge. Depending n what color the uniforms were, this may not have been such a bad idea. I work at a place which uses the same type of blue uniform that some police departments use as well. We just don't have a badge and our name tags are different. I'm sure someone at some point in time may have a need for that type of uniform, because I've seen it used in other workplaces, not just government workplaces, as well.

She also writes about a man wheeling in a broken refrigerator and stating that "It stopped working last week. I figured on of them low income people could use it." While this statement may have been in bad taste, and most of the time low income people do not have the time to set around and fix a broken refrigerator, there may be someone out there who can't afford a working refrigerator, and is knowledgeable about fixing them. As a matter-of-fact, don't we see "Free Refrigerator, Not in Working Condition, Must Pick Up" all the time in our local classified ads all of the time? The next week, the refrigerator is gone, another ad saying "Refrigerator has been picked up" is place, and some lucky guy has a free refrigerator. What's the difference here?

Tori also gives a list of "The Stupidest Donations Ever." In her list, she has "Shirts that read "The Stevenson's Family 5th Reunion" and asks "Who would want to wear that?" What about the homeless person that she says usually doesn't have a need or want for any of the stuff that she lists in her article. I'm sure they could use the shirt, even it was only for another blanket for them to sleep under. I am constantly painting or doing stuff that I need to wear shirts I normally wouldn't wear. That would make a great painting shirt for me. I'm sure someone will find a use for it.

While I disagree with this article to a point, there are several things that I agree with as well. The crisis center she volunteers at is operated by a Catholic Church. It is common sense not to take things of a sexual or sinful nature to a Catholic Church crisis center. However, I am aware that not all people have common sense.

For example, someone took a book on The Antichrist to the center for donation. Yes, I'm sure some low income person already down on their luck needs to read that right now. Someone else donated a sex swing. There is no way in my life that I would ever go to a crisis center to get a used sex swing, no matter how desperate I was.

She also takes stabs at people that are obviously not very well educated and ask her if she has stuff in a different size or when someone asks her when she's going to get a certain product in. I know it probably gets frustrating, but maybe these people don't know that you're not operating like a normal store does. Maybe it's this person's first time being down on their luck, and this is their last resort effort to get clothes, and they don't know any better. Let us not make fun at them, but keep them informed and in good spirits during their hard times.