Comments on: Theft and Garbage Dumping Forces Change in After-hours Donations

By: Orleen Pearson

Orleen Pearson — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 19:49:09 +0000

We have a Salvation Army store in Sherwood Park. To help alleviate the problems that you have talked about, they have a drop off section located in the store. These items are not exposed to inclement weather conditions or theft. Of course, I realize that in order to handle drop-offs in this manner, the store has to have the space.

By: Gisele Jennings

Gisele Jennings — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:18:26 +0000

Hi, I work at a Salvation Army where the client comes first. We provide all the necessary items to ensure that one has enough to get through on.
My observation with the stealing from the thrift store drop off locations is, most are repeat stealers and they make the salvation army a regurlar stop each day, after hours. They do not require the items, some people have made a business of selling items that they take. It is an on going problem. Most SA’s do not have facitlities or the staffing to wash and clean items, so yes, a lot goes to the dump. And, yes, the cost to the SA is devistating. How can we help those who need it when the items are not there, or the monies from the items has been removed from the equation. I do not understand human nature when it comes to stealing from a reputable organization that is in place to help others.
A solution needs to be found and soon. The police do not enforce any actions that go on at the back of the store. I have not heard of anyone getting charged with tresspassing or theft. Who is too blame? Who is responsible? It is a sad situation.

By: Nathaniel Marvier

Nathaniel Marvier — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:17:52 +0000

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By: Friddle@gmail.com

Friddle@gmail.com — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 05:41:49 +0000

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By: Barbara Teddick

Barbara Teddick — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:30:13 +0000

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By: Wayne Welden

Wayne Welden — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 03:53:30 +0000

One can build a large fence with $30,000…just thinking;)

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:51:51 +0000

I have been employed with the Salvation Army Thrift store for 10 years. I cannot believe how many people writting on here have absolutely no idea what Salvation Army is or does. It is not a store for poor people only. Without shoppers buying everyday and making our quota we would cease to exists. The money that the thrift store makes goes to the church and the soup kitchen to name a couple of things. Without thrift store money we would have no soup kitchen. The people would have no food. We have something called Family Services. This is for people who cannot afford anything like clothes or furniture. These people can come in and get a voucher that will give them things that are a necessity. We strongly encourage everyone to shop at the Salvation Army Thrift Store, without you our friends would have no support of any kind. I suggest that people do research on the Salvation Army so they are more prepared to make statements that could harm what we are about.

Also as far as leaving donations after hours, I would like to have cameras out there to record licence numbers so these people could get a littering fine. It causes alot of stress and unnecessary confrontations, as well as costing us alot of money to dump the majority of it.

By: Justin

Justin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 12:39:06 +0000

What I find equally annoying is the amount of well-off people shopping at Salvation Army and other various thrift stores. If you make a decent wage and can afford to pay, you should not be taking discounted items away from people who otherwise cannot afford them.
God has blessed me with a good well paying job, untill I am not, then I will leave the thrift store bargins for the less fortunate.
Our local thrift store (not Sally-Ann) has two full time employees and a rental bin dedicated to sorting through junk, that people drop off. If you wouldn’t buy it, it’s junk and don’t give it away.
JP

By: Sharon McBride-Pine

Sharon McBride-Pine — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:58:57 +0000

I believe that the idea of exterior video cameras and very large signs stating that the premises is under surveillance go a long way as a deterrant to theft in the instances cited above. But it does not solve the problem of vandalism. It takes a community to report the vandals. Be vigilant. Look for a License Plate and report it to Police. In Ontario Schools we have a Zero Tolerance Policy for Violence. Why not Zero Tolerance for Vandalism? If not jail time and restitution, why not several days of the vandal marching in front of the Store he/she vandalized wearing a very large sign stating the crime to all passersby? Our Brampton Salvation Army no longer provides pick up service for furniture so it presents a problem for those who would like to donate good useable large items but can not find someone willing to take their items to the local Drop Off Center. We also have another Christian Thrift Shop organization accepting donations and they have a problem with items dropped off at their front door. Their discards are often partially salvageable and can be donated to another of our Christian Churches who provide a weekly Food Bank and Free Store. Since they have no room to store weekly donations, their donations go to their Garbage bins but are often picked over by Scavengers who arrive after the Staff and Janitor leave for the day. On one of my moves from one apartment to another, I had an entire van load of personal property stolen by a Scavenger. My Landlord and 4 of his family members had put all of my possesions to the road. I had called a friend who was sending me 2 people in 2 vehicles to take the items to a local Rental Unit.The Police were called so that I could gain entry to the Unit. More items were found inside the apartment. The Police did not charge them with theft and the Scavenger who stole the van load was never found. In spite of this experience I decided to turn this into something good for the community and kept the Unit to store donated items which could be given to people who needed them while setting up first housing and getting away from living in tents, cars, etc. I am an environmentalist and I truly hate to see good useable products go to the road only to be crushed in the Garbage Tracks. Our Dumps have become a major problem. No one wants them in their back yard.

By: William

William — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:26:11 +0000

I read a sign in the salavation army store that said don,t steal just come talk to the manager,I think that’s good.