Beading and tumbling go hand in hand.

poor or less fortunate

Harry, this is a reasonable reaction - and don't appologize for ranting. We all need to do that from time to time. And RCB seems to be a safe place to do that. :-)

But I was wondering.......is it possible that your local Goodwill adds the internet "profits" to their general operating fund? I mean, maybe what they get is turned right back into their operation. Maybe to pay light bills, phone bills, etc. Maybe you could ask them where the money goes? HTH!

Susan in VA

Harry.. I know you asked for no comments but I wanted you and other people to better understand the good things Goodwill does.............. I used to work for Goodwill in Spokane Washington and although the people I worked for were not the most honest in dealing with employees they were honest in what they do for the disadvantaged and disabled. All Goodwill's have some forms of programs to teach or counsel the less fortunate. They do not just give out clothes or food but follow the old adage of "give a man a fish and you've fed him for a day BUT teach a man to fish and you've fed him for a life time".The programs cover everything from computer schooling, job coaching, disabled modifications, appropriate behavior, retraining for brain damaged or physically injured employees. The actual programs for each location can vary but are a huge part of were the money goes. Many things factor into how they get there money but retail is the largest part. Just think... If they can get $50 for an item on eBay (The value is usually still more than that) they can afford to bring in one more person into a program. Or $200 for the opportunity to train a person on current software instead of something 5 years old that won't do them any good at all in the real world. As far as being non-profit that has nothing to do with how much money they can receive from the donated goods. Where they spend the money is the key to non-profit. I do not know the current figures but when I worked for them they had an average of 80 cents for every dollar go to the programs. That is outstanding considering the costs of running a retail business. I know how hard it is to see some real sweetheart items not get onto the sales floor to buy or to resell to fill someone else's pocket book. But each time we made big money on E-bay all I had to do was look around me at the faces of the type of people we were helping and know how much better that money was going to be working for them and others like them.

"Harry" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

mostly of clothing items.

Thrift stores between

basically the items you would

know I am ranting and rambling,

the poor or less fortunate

adage remains the same... the

who's claim is to want to help

of them and the 911 disaster

buy new computers and

you this: From this day forward

My rant is over.

poor or less fortunate

Harry My Ebay Auctions are at

I am Harry And I hope I am replying corrected. :) In response to DDKites.... Thank you so much for a wonderful eye opener! I had no idea and I do believe I should have researched the topic more before ranting, but I am so happy I did! Why??? Because I have trouble talking and I know had I not spoke on this I would have kept it locked up inside me and my mind would have came to a conclusion that this is the way all charities operate. I am so thankful to you and I want to apologize to anyone and everyone who may have been hurt or anyway harmed in my actions or words. I am very very very sorry. Forgiveness comes from the heart, but it is ok if your mind says nasty mean things about me. After what I have learned I am deserving of and accept all my consequences! To all who help and aid in helping others I am so sorry. I do hope people continue to contribute to all the causes they feel strongly about and ignore the comments of this fool. Thank you so much DDKites, and I do hope I an spelling your name right.

A humble and foolish man, Harry

My Ebay Auctions are at

causes they feel strongly

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "DDKites" :

]Harry ......... Please stop beating up on yourself!!! You asked a perfectly ]honest question and had a legitimate rant!! Lots of so called non-profits ]are really not and can be as corrupt as can be. Goodwill just doesn't happen ]to be one.

and some stores vary widely. they told me they don't do much of the re-training anymore - they couldn't get enough for the finished products to pay the people doing the work.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

I know money for sold items goes for operating costs, but I agree.

It's a shame that people donate things, intending that poor people can have the nice things they donate, and then these items do not go to the people for who the gift is intended. And all they have available is stuff less good than you can get dumpster diving.

Tina

mostly of clothing items.

Thrift stores between

basically the items you would

know I am ranting and rambling,

the poor or less fortunate

adage remains the same... the

who's claim is to want to help

of them and the 911 disaster

buy new computers and

you this: From this day forward

My rant is over.

I have very great respect for sally Ann, Goodwill, St Vincent dePaul, etc. Especially, I'd like to point out that I've never seen people in these organizations be disrespectful to the disadvantaged.

Tina

I am very lucky...there is a store here, only open on Wednesday's from 12-4, and the first Sat of the month. You can get clothing, small household items (no furniture/etc), and it's all like $3/paperbag, whatever fits in there. That's how I have some of my clothing.

And they actually go through it, and if it's not "nice" clothing (i.e. rips/stains/etc), they will send it on to Goodwill.

The funny thing is, I accidently left a brand new shirt in the bag, one adult-related. Since this is a church function, they sent it to Goodwill. The person at goodwill said that that type of shirt will be thrown away (I REALLY don't think so, it probably goes home with a volunteer). So I lost out on "my" shirt.

Ah, well.

but the point of this was, many Kudo's to the volunteers here at this one, which is in an old house, would be using the kitchen for sorting, the living room/dining room and one small bedroom, for all of this (and they are the small victorian style, it's amazing what they put into this house! The upstairs is the church's offices.

Mary

Ya know, the re-training is all very well and good, but I'd rather see the good items on the sales floor where regular poor people can buy them, than on the internet making bigger money for retraining. I think that part of what places like Goodwill SHOULD be for is allowing the poor to furnish themselves and their houses with nice-quality stuff for little money. That's how I grew up. Every time I think about "the good stuff" going on eBay, I cringe, imagining yet another 13-year-old girl having to go to school every day in outdated, ugly clothes, being made fun of, and growing up with no self-esteem.

-Kalera

vj wrote: