rude person at St. Vincent's thrift shop

**Hannahs mom** · 07-03-2008, 07:42 PM

Since we're moving here in a couple of weeks, and will have a smaller garage, I decided to do some major cleaning out of the "extras" that we have stored out in the garage. I decided to take all of my yardsale stuff and quite a few other clothes, etc. that DH and I hadn't worn in a couple of years to our local thrift shop. I had to just stop and stare at the woman when I told her that I had a car full of minimally worn clothes and some dishes, etc. that I would like to donate. She said, "oh gosh - not more stuff" and gave me an evil look. I asked her if there would be a way for someone to help me bring the things in (umm - had a baby on my hip at the time and I wasn't going to leave her out of my sight) or if I could put them on the closed in porch. She said that she wouldn't help and I had to bring them inside! I nicely said thank you - I'll just put them here on the porch. I put DD in her car seat and put the stuff on the porch - 2 steps from the car.

I was appalled at the behavior of this person. I was trying to help the people here in my community. I could have easily driven to the town I work in and dumped it in a donation container. I hope this person was just having a bad day and doesn't act like this to all the people that make donations. Honestly, I'll probably donate any other things I have to the local school system - family and youth resource centers. To top it off - St. Vincent's is a representative of a mission church outreach. I don't think they'll reach many people with attitudes like that.

**itsahumanzoo** · 07-03-2008, 07:44 PM

I wouldn't have even gone as far as too leave it on the porch! I would have said, "Well, thank you for your help, I'll be taking my donations elsewhere. Have a nice day."

**kaykwilts** · 07-03-2008, 07:59 PM

She should not have been rude to you. Have you reported her yet?

**quiltergirl** · 07-03-2008, 09:09 PM

I hate to say this, but I think that kind of attitude and behavior are becoming more and more common. Over the last couple of years I have had a hard time finding charities to accept donations of goods and time. Most seem to want cash. We have worked for non-profits and have seen a lot of misuse of funds so we do not make cash donations to anyone.

We are in the process of getting rid of a storage unit and threw a lot of stuff away (why did we ever store it to begin with), and family members are taking some things we don't have room for that need to stay in the family. But we had some very nice things that we just don't need or use anymore and a garage sale just isn't possible right now. You wouldn't believe how long it took to find places to accept them.

We prefer to donate to faith based organizations and prefer that what we donate be given directly to those in need rather than sold. The rescue mission did accept a box of self-help books and tapes and two winter coats. And we gave a box of other books to a local library with a small budget that actually catalogs them and puts them on the shelves. They will probably get more, we don't have our bookshelves up yet so don't know for sure what we will keep.

I talked to a whole slew of extremely rude people, many of whom even refused to look at what we had. But we finally ended up donating most of the rest to a thrift store that raises money for cystic fibrosis research. A horrible disease and a worthy cause, but I do wonder how much of the money they raise goes to things that really aren't necessary.

I wish I could tell you this was just an isolated incident but I'm afraid it's not. I do hope the people these charities "help" are treated better than those trying to help the charities.

**Hannahs mom** · 07-03-2008, 09:37 PM

quiltergirl - I hate to hear that this is becoming more common. It really makes me stop and think about how few "good" people there really are out there. I would have expected worse treatment at a larger city, but I live in a teeny tiny town where one would "expect" people to be nicer.

kaykwilts - I haven't reported her and really wouldn't know who to report her too. But, I did think about putting a letter in our town newspaper. I've since decided against it, because I really don't want to discourage people from going there that are in need and I don't want to discourage other people from donating. Many people here have no means of making it to the nearest town for clothes, etc. and I'd hate to negatively affect those needing the help the most. Of course, I'm glad to have this place to vent. I felt the need to tell someone.

**joeymoma93** · 07-03-2008, 10:04 PM

I'm sorry to hear that. But I think whomever runs the place should know what is going on. I personally would have taken it to a different charitable organization. If this person has done this to others image how much money they may be losing. which is sad because supposed to help others in need. Unreal.
I think that some people should not deal with the public at all and evidently this is one of those people.

**JustMegan79** · 07-04-2008, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by itsahumanzoo

I wouldn't have even gone as far as too leave it on the porch! I would have said, "Well, thank you for your help, I'll be taking my donations elsewhere. Have a nice day."

My sentiments exactly. What is the world coming to when people that work for a mission are po'ed when you are GIVING them stuff. ARGHHHHHHHHH!

**Marie78** · 07-04-2008, 12:13 AM

I had a similar experience at a thrift store. I brought my things in for donation and the people running the place acted like I was such a burden for donating. I didn't even want a receipt I just wanted to help those in need. I haven't donated there since, I just drop my clothes off at a clothing drop box. I put any knick knacks on my mom's curb, in a box marked free it's always gone within hours.

**mommy2many** · 07-04-2008, 01:30 AM

I would have driven away and givent he goods to the nearest church instead....

**Nishu** · 07-04-2008, 02:04 AM

Um, I don't think working too much is an excuse to be an @-hole to your customers. If that's an acceptable excuse I may just have to start egging front doors and plugging up public toilets and use gas-price outrage as an excuse.

She was very rude and she sounds quite lazy, but from what I understand those people are just regular bottom rung employees like the ones who take your order at McD's. They're not there as an act of goodwill, they're there for a paycheck. It's not really reasonable to expect every single thrift store employee to act enthusiastic about the good thing you're doing for those in need.

I don't mean to say she should have treated you that way, I'm only suggesting that you shouldn't be upset with the entire organization and hold out on your donation just because of this grump. The charity still needs your donations and probably still does good work regardless of how a few bad apple employees behave.

That's how it worked in our hometown thrift stores, anyway. They weren't volunteers by any means.

**champagnium** · 07-04-2008, 08:00 AM

While it's true that somewhere, there's always SOMEONE who needs an item of clothing, the amount of donations that come in compared to the ones that go out can be staggering. When I worked at the homeless women's shelter, there were 2 rooms full of clothes, but the reality was, a lot of it was older, out of style, or older women's style because families will donate a deceased relative's entire wardrobe, and the unfortunate reality is, that's not what the women will wear. At my shelter it was jogging pants, jeans, t-shirts, and sweatchirts. What the charities really need is things like underwear, bras and deoderant.

That woman never should have treated you like that, but the unfortunate reality is that many goods donations get sold to warehouse style used clothing stores because there simply isn't enough room to keep it all.