"it's a bit like stealing from the rich and keeping from the poor." Chris- LiveNews
EXPOSING
THE SALVATION ARMY
This is the plush, 3 car garage, all expenses paid home at Little Pine Island, of Major Ralph Bukiewicz, one of the Salvation Army’s Divisional Commanders, in Michigan.
What Does The Salvation Army Really Do with Our Donations?
First, it’s important to understand that The Salvation Army employs (members and non-members) some very good hearted people, who’s true purpose and desire is to help those in need. Unfortunately, those people are probably not the ones who set program spending limits or allocate funds.
The Salvation Army has been running what could be the biggest scam in America, for years! Perception is the key! They have marketed their paramilitary structure as a self-sacrificing charity, whose mission is to help the poor.
Projecting that their members, (usually identified by way of uniform) are "sacrificing" the finer things in life to help others in the name of Jesus; blasphemies!
(See officers & income for more information.)
They do help people, but the numbers are much smaller than reported for a number of reasons. We cover that under, “are the numbers fudged?”
So, you put your money in that red kettle every season (most of you not knowing it’s a 6 week church fundraising campaign, for a Salvationist church, that primarily caters to its Salvationist members, a lot of which, are on the payroll.) Maybe you write a check to support the “mission,” bequeath your money, or donate a car. It makes you feel good because you’re helping your fellow man, right? So what happens with that money?
Well, America! You should find this disturbing! But, you have the power to change it!
The Salvation Army is structured after the military so it’s broken down as such, i.e., headquarters, territories, divisions, unites, etc….
Resent numbers show:
One unit, (and remember their international) took in over $2,500,000 in cash and non-cash donations, another $4,000,000 in government funds (still our money) of that, a staggering amount of more than $4,500,000 was paid out in salaries and benefits alone! And that number does not include the other large amounts of operating cost.
A second unit, took in $6,053,074.00 in cash and non-cash donations, another $983,736.00 in government funds (still our money) of that, another staggering amount of $4,465,309.00 was paid out yet again, in salaries, benefits and other large amounts of operating cost.
So what’s left for the people you intended to help?
Draw your own conclusion……..
Please note: The above numbers do not include the Salvation Army's Mega Church "Kroc Center" donations or spending.
This article may give you a better understanding of how this happens:
Salvation Army Rates High on Finances but Low on Governance
http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/salvarmy.html
JOIN THE PROTEST!!
Support@salvationarmykroccenterprotest.com

"Trust me, the Salvation Army will find ways to fund that crock of a Kroc Center even if it means pushing the needs of those in need off to other counties...they will do whatever it takes, short of the officer families giving up any of their too many benefits to mention. That will never happen...or give up their ability to hire every relative every officer's family has (nepotism is the name of the game at the Salvation Army)...or give up their annual meetings in places like the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island? Never!"
Comment from: www.exposingthearmy.blogspot.com

Former employee said...
When working for the Salvation Army for many years, I observed a great many disparities in the organization. First, they perpetuate the myth of helping people, when primarily, the organization is a church and helps those that operate the church. The services provided are often done utilizing government funding which has strict guidelines and limitations in use, thus the organization cannot profit from those funds. The Salvation Army claims these government funding-suppplied services as part of their mission to “help the needy”. The private donations are used for administrative staff and minister salaries, as well as to purchase housing and pay for all expenses for not only the ministers, but their families as well. Much of their touting about “services provided” do not hold water once you realize that they include their church services and other activities as “social services” and “ministering” to the poor.

A current employee said...
The Salvation Army is a very corrupt nonprofit faith based corporation. Not a true 501c3 as stated. If you look into Guide Star’s review of the SA the report only includes the financials from DC, the headquarters for all of North America. Unfortunately, it does not state how these finanicials are not including each and every corps in the SA. Individually, this is how they hide their expenses of their majors unbelieveable lifestlyes. All SA’s will put down “Programming” as a budgeted item in the audit reports (which are a joke because these audits are done internally by their buddies, employees and personal friends of the majors) all expenses are hidden in that programming. For example, it you have a youth program, expenses for dinners out, furniture, clothing, any kind of purchase is then reported under that programming. You will see no expenses reported from the Majors for personal expenses. The Majors and their families recieve free housing (ours had a home worth $300,000.00) in the Midwest and two new cars, brand new beautiful furniture, food, dinners out all the while their staff is nickel and dimed and worked to death. I have never seen such an autocratic organization. Major this, Colonel that, what BS! As I see these poor bell ringers working for the army I am so ashamed of how duped the American public has become. They have been made out to be suckers. This organization is extremely corrupt. It needs to be investigated and their lobbyist’s need to back off from the White House. They were successful in lobbying the government to not have to pay unemployement insurance to employees laid off or fired. This from a “faith based” organization? Their day is coming and I want to be there to open the door to the facts and expose this cult of lying Christian Right wingers who are laughing all the way to the bank. Wake up America!


View one units IRS form 990


Maria said......
The Salvation Army typically buys very nice homes for their officers. Here, 18 months ago, they bought their new "area commander" a home in a cushy subdivision on the west side --- far from the office/shelter/foodbank --- $300,000 house THEN replaced the countertops and floors for $50,000 THEN bought $60,000 in new furniture including a front loading red W/D ("on sale" for $2,500) THEN bought a new van PLUS a new sedan PLUS a new pick-up truck (with grant funds designated for a different city) PLUS $700 in lawn equipment and pays someone to cut the yard and has cable premium, cell and landline phones and high speed internet -- all paid for by your donations. This same officer and his wife go through all clothing and furniture donated to take what they want, prepare or order for meetings WAY too much food so they can take home all extras and take "coffee money" out of the kettles. Officers also can get "petty cash" to cover "expenses." In the 18 months this officer has been here, all but 2 employees have quit (he lied to fire 2 others), the advisory board has asked 5 times in 18 short months that he be removed from here. Officers claim to "live on" very little money. ALL their bills are paid, they feed their grown children and their grandchildren and shop at Sams and grocery stores without ever paying sales tax on personal items. They take the Salvation Army truck to move their grown children and had a nonSalvation Army soninlaw at the wheel --- uninsured by Salvation Army. This person here refers to grown African American men as "Boy!" like some plantation boss and treats professional staff like dirt.
The financial truth about the dollar you drop in a kettle:
12 cents goes to the national Salvation Army
most kettle workers are paid -- not volunteers -- and are recruited here from the shelter -- one of them stole a kettle this Christmas. And another Kettle was stolen in a highly publicized theft (that greedy, dumb officer told the media the dollar amount expected daily in each kettle) then just two weeks later another officer was killed here by thugs who wanted to rob him. "Give us THE money" is what they said before they murdered the wonderful Major Philip Wise. Not give us YOUR money.
So, the Salvation Army lives in lavish homes, drives new cars, has private cabins at camps, charges homeless $75 a week after the first 7 days in the shelter, charges underprivileged children going to "free" camp $10 cash (and the officer wife took the money for road trip snax), and sends 12 percent of all donations to national. It has been said that retiring officers get checks for $100,000+ -- so much for the poverty lifestyle --- and have a retirement account and health insurance while staff gets no unemployment and you will never find a gay or lesbian person working on staff at the Salvation Army because they will not be considered for hire. Salvation Army takes federal and state public funds!, yes, and hides behind a "church" exemption yet the staff does not have one thing to do with ANY of the Church services or proceedings at all. William Booth that founded the Salvation Army is rolling over in his grave because of the lavish life the Salvation Army lives now. There are wonderful LOCAL charities who provide the care, shelter, food and clothing for needy people and they do it in a humble, nice way without living large in huge houses and loads of cash in their pockets and purses. Support LOCAL food banks and shelters!
