The Salvation Army USA
Reviews and Complaints

I witnessed, a black boy getting beat up by an employee at The Kroc Center.. Recommend parents keep their children away from there!The Kroc Center, has been in the news recently for several lawsuits filed against them for Racism, and the mistreatment of African-American kids!

This year had been a bit hard on my family as far as finances and utility bills. I was informed that I could fill out an application for help at my local salvation army, which I did and provided all the documents requested . this was the first time I had ever spied or asked for help with utilities ever. at first the lady who took care of me seemed very diligent in helping and called me back after reviewing my application and talking to the electric company to inform me I needed to wait for my next Bill to come out before they could me because my situation was not "that bad" according to the electric company. I made another partial payment and and waited so when the next Bill was sent to me it was a disconnect notice. I called back as informed to do and was asked to bring in a copy of the disconnect notice, which I did but she was not in the office when I dropped it off. After waiting a day I called to make sure she received the copy with my name and number written on it so she could call me and was told she was not in and to call back later...this went on for 4 days until finally someone different answered who said she would pull my file and have her call me that day. That was 2 days ago. Today is the due date for Bill to keep from getting disconnected and we managed to scrap together enough to pay our past due amount but still have some we need help with to get caught up. Sadly this was the first time I had EVER asked for help and maybe the last time I ask for assistance because I did everything asked of me but still have not heard from anyone In regards to my application for assistance and cannot get in touch with anyone who knows anything when I call.

I needed assistance with food clothing and a 94.00 disconnect bill I had previously paid a budget billing of 545.00 and 300.00 my fiancé just got a temp job our food stamp was cut 300.00 which means we also have to buy food gas there is two disabled people elderly 63 myself 35 my two children 11 and 12 I had to have surgery a week ago and had to buy meds that aren't on my insurance I am hiv pos and we use machines that are important to my health and my mother is on a cpap there was a lot of miscommunication on there side I was escorted out and told I needed to come up with receipts forced out with no food or clothes and a possibility of my electric being shut off any day please help me they treatede like they were better then me

Hi I have been a member of the Blue Island Salvation Army and the lieutenant that runs that location is rude, unprofessional, and many employees have quite since she taken over. Those employees were there since 2010. Also the facility isn't clean and the basketball court is always dirty and everybody slides on it. Complaints have been brought to her and she always brush them off by saying "I'M running this place by myself I'm not married so things have to wait". I can't attached my two videos. This location will be better ran by someone else. Also she doesn't keep meeting like she suppose to and this facility can bring in much more money but she closed minded and she only support Mexicans ideas.

On 12/11/14 I went to the salvation army on 4 st n and 54 ave st petersburg fl to make yet another donation. I had a huge bag filled with items and clothing. I had a bag with me and my purse and went in the store. I told the cashier about it, she said nothing so I proceeded to shop, went in the fiting room, then I hear knocking on the door and an angry woman started to ask for my bags accusing me of wanting to put stuff in to steal them, like the others do, so she said, so Jennifer the low life claiming to be a manager made a scandal in the store that attracted the attention of everyone within ear shot. I have never been so humiliated or embarassed. Then she denied the whole thing and called me a liar. There were other 2 brown noses trying to back up this disgraceful incident. I asked her are you taking the donations home? The 48 hours episode investigated salvation army employees taking the goodies home. I will never give them anything at all. It's a shame because the needy suffers because of the low lives with no class or training on how to approach people especially after making just another big donation, some of them fresh out of prison.
This is a disgusting example of a classless low life given some power without the competence or brains disrespectful and rude

Imagine how uncomfortable you are if you go hungry for an hour or two. Now think about what it must feel like for a day, two days or more and going here in Regina SK about a three weeks.
Those who live with constant hunger are in a continuous state of weakness and desperation with little knowledge or hope of where their next meal will come from.
And likely for individuals in a situation like this, the next meal will not be fully nutritious.
I have being turn down several times at that location and every time i go their it is same word we don't have anything .
When I try to write a complain letter on their website their is no email taking their website at all, so this is a way of their complain shut down too.
Please, is their anyone in this world who is willing to help me about this situation.

Reference pickup number 429204, Route 0101, Seq 7, OP# 133. My mom had just passed away and I was donating her apartment furniture. The pickup window was from 2:30 to 5:30 pm. I arrived at 2:00 pm and discovered the SA truck had already been there and had left. No one called to inform me that the pickup was going to be early or I would have arranged to meet them. Since they did not pickup up my furniture, there was an obvious time gap in their schedule. But when I called to have the truck come back I was told that I would have to reschedule for the following week. The SA thinks we are here to serve them. Apparently, the SA does not need nor appreciate donations, so I recommend to everyone to donate to other reputable charities that does appreciate and need donated items and money. Since there is nothing SA can say or do to make this right, they need not contact me.

I was in the Salvation Store in Horn Lake, MS where I live and shop there frequently on Saturday morning usually. A couple of weeks ago I was looking thru one of the red baskets and this lady yelled at me "that is my basket". I looked up and apologized for the mistake because I know the stuff loaded on the shelves comes from these same type of red baskets. She was not nice and did not say ok or that's alright, which I found rather rude. I then went to another basket right beside this one and then she came over and started taking items out of the basket and putting it on shelves. I found that odd as I knew she didn't work there. I quickly took a couple items out of the basket before she grabbed them and she did not like that. She was not very nice at all and I sensed a real negative person inside. I just couldn't understand why she was working and not an employee, but dressed in shopping clothes. Today we had a run in. I was shopping and saw a checker board game. I was later told this same woman was looking for it and claimed I got it out of her basket. The women came to where I was and claimed it was hers. I told her how did I know it was yours? She said it was in my basket. I said who did I know it was your basket. I asked her was she a shopper or a worker. Why are you working here when you are not an employee? She said she was helping Terry. I said you are not supposed to be working here and should stop. I did not tell her, but I had opened the fox to find some expensive figurines inside. Could she have stole those from the back and hid them in a regular checker box no one would pay attention too, probably. What she is doing is going through the baskets first and getting everything good out of them and placing another basket beside her to fill up. That is why she yelled at me the first time I say her. She is probably digging through the other baskets in the backroom where I saw her picking and choosing what she wants to go through. She is using the excuse of working so she can do this and that is not fair to the rest of the customers. I wouldn't mind being able to go into the backroom and pick and choose, who wouldn't? Besides, if she is not an employee, she should not be allowed to go into the back room. Someone in management needs to explain to her that she should not be putting things out on the shelves. I did give the checker box back to her because I did not want to make it hard on my Salvation Army friends and workers. I certainly don't want any of them to get in trouble, and we treat each other very special. They want to tell her to stop putting stuff out on the shelves but don't have the courage because she is a real dominating and argumentative and hard to take on. I do not have a problem taking her on and I think she knows that, but she had to be because she is cheating the system. I confront sin wherever I see it and she is stealing. They know who this lady is and thought maybe someone needs to tell them to tell her she is not allowed to act like she is working there when she is not. She did not say she was employed when I ask and knew she would be lying is she did. This woman is dangerous in the sense I feel she is one of these types that will also try to make you pay her for all the time she worked there later on. Besides she is not covered by insurance and if she claimed workman's comp, may be a problem when she claimed she worked there and witnesses saw her working there. If it was me, I would let her know she can not go in the backroom or special permission to go through the basket first and get out everything she wants. I think she is making money off the stuff and do whatever it takes to get first dibs on the merchandise. She knows how I feel and made myself clear today. I hope I don't see her back doing that again the next time I go in the store so please let the management know to make her stop doing this. I love all the employees up there so please don't be hard on them, but I think if you told them to tell her and tell them
it was because of the altercation me and her had, was the reason why. That woman knows and will remember I'm sure, it was not nice, but not the first time I have been to the rodeo either. Thanks, Joey

The manager refused to take furniture (for donation stating that they have scratches. I thought this is salvation army not ethan allen. Finally the manager admitted that they have a lot of stuff to unload from their truck and he does not have resources to add more stuff. So he literally ask us to dump the furniture (Night stand, dressers, tv stand etc) to the dumpster instead. All these could have be given to people who are in need. Pretty sad!

A few months ago my sister bought a lounge chair from the salvation army. She has trouble sleeping lying down. She said the chair looked in good condition. After sleeping in it all night, she woke up the next morning with bites and bed bugs on her. Needless to say the bug had gotten further than her and were infesting her carpet and surrounding area. The chair was taken outside and burned, but problems are still persisting. Complaints to the salvation army have been of do help. Between fumigating and her and her husband's medical bills, it has been a nightmare. Somewhere there has to be help for them.

My wife was in a dressing room trying on a dress. She came out to get an other dress to try on and while she was out a worker cleaned the dressing room. When she came back her purse was gone. One worker said he saw it but put it up front, but no-one saw it or had it up front. I believe the workers stole my wifes purse. It had all her valuable stuff in it, including our rent money.

Yesterday September 9, 2014 I was again given dirty sheets and pillow case in the
shelter. I happened to check the bed accessories on a neighboring bed and they
were clean. The sheet was covered in rust or what seems to be lipstick. It
would appear that the bed seems to be at the heart. This has been ongoing week
after week for quite some time now and is quite frankly disturbing. It seems
like serial harassment from the staff.

In addition
I woke up this morning and there was a lot of what seems to be blue dye on the
pillow. On my hair is completely covered in a hair net I saw no signs of this
on the net. And the coverage was quite large which suggests mischief. I may be
wrong but this my gut feel and I woke up this morning to a man screaming you
are f***. And he kept saying BUSTED. Hence, I was not surprised at what happened
after.

I have
brought this to the staff attention and nothing has been done.

I have
already indicated that I have been having some troubles from the women there. I
feel individuals may be paying these women to do so.

For a number of weeks since I have been at the shelter the staff has been
assigning me unclean pillow cases. Thursday August 23, 2014 was the most
recent. I checked around no one seems to have this reoccurring incident. It
would appear to be bullying or payment of some sort. Acceptance testing?

My locker has been broken into last Saturday August 16, 2014 by someone in
there. The locker has a combination lock that only I and the employees there
should have the combination to. An empty one dollar bag was placed in the
locker.

I have made a number of reports about the face of an iron pipe in the bathroom
i.e. it needs to be replaced. To date nothing. This is not hygienic it has a
rusty face which I believe could pose a potential harm.

I have health and safety concerns regarding the plates that are been given to
us to use. I usually respond by asking for a cleaner plate. On one occasion
when I asked for a clean plate the staff puffed up her chest and insisted that
she simply would not comply and insisted that I direct the matter to the front
line staff. I was quite surprised as I feel all staff especially the ones in
the kitchen should be empowered to address and

resolve health and safety concerns instead of transferring this matter over.

Sounds like training for both customer service and matter relating to health

and safety (the matter of communicable diseases hepatitis etc.). There should
be daily ongoing health and safety procedures in place to minimize the spread
of diseases should there be an outbreak. I do not think this is unreasonable it
is just common sense.

To have health and safety regiments that reduce the risk of spreading diseases
throughout the facility the hospitals cannot handle all the crowd.

Computers are being monitored by employees (guys) and the information is being
used in a distasteful manner. I received an email containing very disturbing
and upsetting sexual messages and the staff reading this mimicked individuals
having sex in the room next to me (GRUNTS). I do know that the computers are
the property of the government and are monitored by the agency responsible.
Again this suggests training on how staff should behave. The guys need to be
trained it is one thing when information is available but the other thing is
what impact does the information have on the individual receiving the
information. I was upset and disturbed and then the employees added
insensitivity by making sexual associations. The guys at school do not deserve
privacy. At least I am not the only one that sees what happens in the school
system. This is awareness for everyone.
(This was at the Cawthra Shelter in Mississauga).

Since I have raised a number of concerns the staff have responded by giving
me warnings in payment.

· I have raised the concern that I have been involved in ongoing sexual
harassment and retaliation. There is a sign-in sheet that is placed right at
the front of the building that is quite accessible. I have asked the staff how
do they deal with victims

on the run and hiding from someone (a battered wife as an example) and I was
told there was nothing in place just complete the sheet and complete a
complaint form. I was also told the sign-in sheet is used to check and
count-off persons

should there be an emergency evacuation. This needs to be evaluated i.e. what
sort of response planning needs to be done for abuse victim I am afraid
everyone is not the same and therefore uniform treatment isn't exactly fitting.

I have been experiencing ongoing retaliation from the two ladies in the room. I
have approached the staff about this. I have expressed that these ladies have
repeatedly exposed me to health threats by throwing my personal possessions on
the floor. The default response in most of the situations seems to be the door
even in situations where health and safety are a concern.

·
Someone
has stolen a picture of a child next they’ll steal my passport.

I remember expressing to the staff that I had lung and breathing problems
concerns because the floor was refurbished while we were still in the room on
July 28, 2014. Again the response was please see the door, relocation is not an
option even though there are other rooms. I know that in construction
engineering there is a planning aspect where health and safety is paramount in
executing or completing the job. This was not done. My lungs hurt for several
days. This approach is geared towards steering individuals that come into the
facility to illness.

I tried to donate a fridge. Amana... Freezer on the bottom. They still make that exact model. Used until a month ago...in great shape... As clean as the day we bought it. They said it was "too old". How would they even know how old it even was? Really? Should we donate the one we just bought instead? My young son was home, so they took advantage of that fact and just didn't feel like moving it. What a shame. Now it'll go in the trash. What a foolish, annoying waste. And they're supposed to be helping people?

They refused to take our couch on the grounds it had a tear. When it actuality they did not want to lift the couch. So they thought it a good idea to wake up my whole family 8 in the morning just to tell me they were being lazy and picky and did not want to do their job. Not to surprising really, every time a person is relied on they always fail. You like all people do not deserve the privilege of existence. Also who knew beggars CAN be choosers. Welcome to the future I guess...

After waiting nearly a week for the pick up date I was given, I was shocked when two extremely rude men arrived at my door 7/9/14 and refused to take the washer and dryer that I requested the pick up for. I have been donating items from clothes to furniture to baby items for years. I figured might as well give them towards a good cause versus leaving them on the side of the road for some random person to pick up (not like we were attempting to sell them, giving them away anyways). Upon arriving I was questioned as to my reason on donating them and then given attitude due to four screws missing on the back of the dryer. He continued by saying the machines were dirty and did not work (which he could not even check since they were not plugged in at the time). The behavior of the two employees today could only lead me to believe Salvation Army only wants prefect items so they can attempt to rip off anyone that wishes to purchase items there versus actually following their own mission statement and helping out their community. Judging by the comments and complaints I read prior to submitting my own, just proves that they could care less about their community and rather rip off others that really could use the help. My washer and dryer could have been used for parts for all I care so long as it was going to help someone in the long run: which is not going to ever happen if Salvation Army continues refusing every item that is donated.

My family had a crisis. I am a young woman alone with two little children. I am also Caucasian/American. I was directed to the Salvation Army for a food pantry, because we had NO food in the house, and no family or friends to help. The woman at the desk told me that because I had food stamps (a very small portion to supplement a small part-time income), I could receive no help. Not even an emergency bag of food. I explained that I had a situation with my children's abusive father, he'd stolen from me, and I was in an emergency hotel placement/shelter. She told me there was nothing she could do, not even a sandwich for my children to share! In front of me, however, was a woman getting out of a nice car, with a folding shopping cart and maybe a thousand dollars in gold jewelry on her neck and wrists and fingers. After a few quick words and laughs exchanged in Spanish, she went in to have her pick and fill her cart up, while we were left to starve. This woman could have pawned one piece of jewelry until SHE got paid, and fed her kids! I had NOTHING. This is unacceptable, unChristian, and I have been told by other White people that this happens all the time. The whole city is having a hard time, but this office seems to, according to others, hold their resources for their country-folk. My own experience hints strongly at this. And that woman at the desk couldn't have asked the other woman, to let me have a loaf of bread and some peanut butter or dried milk? For two little kids? I could see piles of food on the tables, but we were LEFT TO STARVE.

Not enough food provided to homeless families living there...dinner served at 4:30...snack is always skipped because they say they are understaffed an when it is served it is fruit cockyale or pound cake...this is a family shelter an kids are hungry there...they won't allow you to bring food in to feed them...they say they don't have bus ticket to provide the homeless families so they can get to appointments...staff is rude and disrespecrfull...they make the families sign in 3 an 4 timrs a day...probally so they can receive funding from different resources...yet there are no funds...how? These problems need to be addressed right away...espesally the food situation...going without food from 4:30pm till 7:30 am is crazy