Salvation Army being greedy buggers.

Wow talk about bringing a dead post back to life.

Benway I think you are correct I worded my OP rather rude and bluntly. I was posting on behalf of my mother. Originally she would go in and buy one or 2 green bags of toys and only pay up to $15 per bag. Then the price got up to $50 even $100 for a bag of second hand toys.

My family no longer shops at the Salvo’s stores. The reaction of staff got to the point of “oh its you, the price is double for you.” We used to do a monthly shop there buying toys spending up to $100. If they dont want our money – tough !

The worst came when my mother went to the Woden Salvo’s and spent around an hour tidying up and sorting through the mess of toys they had. The supervisor for the day offered her a job, if she wanted to come in and spend a few hours a week she could take stock home for free or at a much discounted rate. He explained that there was boxes of stuff that needed sorting out the back, and had been sitting there for months, they just needed volunteers to help out. My mother said she would be happy to go through and clean up dirty toys or throw out anything badly broken. When she phoned the manager the next day to arrange a time to come in, she was told the guy the day before wasnt allowed to offer her a job, and her help wasnt welcome. ‘My mother was extremely disappointed as she is on a disability pension and was looking forward for someway to spend her time helping others… But now the Smith Family is one of the last places she goes.

There are still some nice shops around newtown , and in King’s Cross , the Op Shop “Beatniks and Bohemians” outside the Wayside Chapel is still an Op Shop the way they are meant to be !! Possibly my favourite little op shop in Sydney.

I totally agree the Salvation army are a rip off. It is just a shame the original poster was not careful with their wording and made themselves sound like a terrible hoarder “Garbage bags full of toys” just sounds like excess, however, she is not wrong at all about the prices or the staff.
The way they structure the business end now is hardly charitable. The bulk of the money is NOT lining the pockets of the poor .
If you want a nice men’s jacket there these days, you are looking at $50 minimum virtually anywhere in Sydney. You may get something nice for $30-$40 , but doubtful. They do not even have to be leather, they can be fake leather jackets! I have seen LOADS of fake leather jackets priced at $60, $70 and sometimes more. I saw a whole rack of DAGGY slacks and coats for $50 for JUST the slacks and $50 for JUST the coat.
You could get something NICE and NEW for that price at a first-hand clothing shop !!
I refer to all those Salvos in the city , and the inner West , and Ryde and Gladesville , Rozelle etc. I never buy from the Salvos anymore. And I do prefer to throw most of my things out now, or if they are rare or antique, find another nicer business or individual to give them to.

The Salvos stores to my mind [and I suspect many people would expect] should ideally be a COMMUNITY store as well as a charity, and it is really LOW on both those qualities these days.

The don’t pay rent, they get subsidized by the government, many of their staff are not being paid by the Sallies , their merchandise is FREE for them , they pay NOTHING for it , and are charging ridiculous amounts for it .

F**CK ‘EM. F**CK the Salvos STORES [not the real Sallies who are out there doing their wonderful bit]

Well, that’s my rant.

I feel the same way about St Vincent De Paul “Vinnies” shops these days too.

madjimmy said :

I saw a computer desk in the Salvo store at Tuggers the other day. It had a few dings and scratches, but overall not a bad desk. Price tag on it was $250. Funny thing is I have the exact same desk at home, we got it from Target a year ago for just under $150 (without the dings and scratches)…….Caveat emptor……If the Salvo staff give you an unrealistic price for something just tell ’em they’re dreamin.

I ended up buying that desk for $25.00 the manager Karen was very nice it was meant to be $25.oo she laughed and said the assist wasnt wearing her glasses the day she priced that one.

Bewildered is very right – “The sad thing about all of this is that there are some very kind, honest and decent people working for the Salvation Army.”

Someone in my family group (I’m ashamed to say) has been with a store for quite a while now. Rather than look for work, this is his part-time escape from a ‘real’ job and looks like remaining that way. He does his time or should I say ‘days’ per week and he’s off the hook possibly for years, while he stays on the dole.

I can say that unless this one place is an exeption, which I find hard to believe that they are indeed ripping off the needy. When a person ‘working’ there can make calls to friends to let them know what they can get ‘cheaper’ or near for nothing – then that’s definitely ripping off the needy in my books. And workers can’t do that without others working there knowing or possibly/probably doing the same – it’s not possible.

There was a time I thought when there were paid staff plus the volunteers. I’m not sure who the volunteers consist of now. Are they mostly dole bludgers also, doing a couple of days a week instead of looking for work?

On a personal note, for myself, I stopped going into the stores a while back anyway. There is no excuse for rudeness and I found myself tripping over myself trying to be nicer than I would be in any store because it was the Salvos but hearing how they talked to some, then being spoken to the same way I exited. One fair and friendly worker was rare. The rudeness too common.

I also like someone else here heard a single mother being spoken down to when she was a 50c coin short of what seemed to me an overpriced child’s jacket to me. There is no need for that. Not anywhere.

I have lost my once high regard for the Salvation Army.

Salvo’s Stores is an increasingly Capitalist/Corporatist entity. It is important to note that a substantial portion of funds raised by the sale of donated goods now has to pay excecutive salaries to senior staff along with perks like private use company vehicles and free petrol. Senior personell are attracted to executive positions through the incentive of high remuniration and bonuses/perks just like any other company. Thus the driver to work for the Salvo’s has shifted from ‘working for the benefit of others’ to pure self interest. Consequently the culture of the organisaton has changed. This will lead the Salvation Army to a crisis of credibility and morality.

I have to agree with rottweiler as I have personally witnessed how many of the Salvation Army Officers benefit from others kindness. I know for a fact that many of the houses left to the Salvation Army in people’s wills are used for personal reasons. They are not sold to benefit the needy.

I wish that I did not know as much as I do, as it honestly makes me sick to the stomach. Money that was intended to help disadvantaged members of our society is embezzled, or spent where it was not intended. Flash cars are not an uncommon sight amongst those higher up. And money that is funded by the government to assist their social services is often tapped in order to make a profit.

The sad thing about all of this is that there are some very kind, honest and decent people working for the Salvation Army. These people have a genuine desire to help those in the community, but the moment a service is not making a profit for the Salvation Army it is ditched.

Although many businesses may operate in a immoral even despicable manner, they do not claim to be based on religious ethics. They do not claim to be a charity with a sole purpose of assisting those in need. The Salvation Army wants to be treated as a business when convenient to them, and the moment anything goes wrong they pull out the charity card. They steal from the poor to make themselves rich. It makes me feel very disillusioned, as one could never even dream that a religious charity could do so much bad. Nevertheless, I feel some sense of relief in knowing that any people doing such wrong will one day face the repercussions.

The salvo’s are run like a business and should be treated like any other business .. all officers are paid some very well, most senior officers live in house’s owned by the salvo’s at a very discounted rent are furnished by the best of donated goods, are given cars to drive around in, some of the people who work in the store do ring family saying “they have an item that would look good in your house come get it today or I have to put it out for sale”.

YES they help the needy but only after helping themselves.And yes they do have volunteers and crims helping in stores but they are the one willing to give you a reasonable price for items it’s the person who runs and gets paid to run the stores that are rude, sometimes very bitchy and want ridiculous prices.Just to give you people an idea of prices of average clothing in stores Womens: tops $7-$9 pants $9-$15 jackets $20-up suits $20(depending on brand)$40-$50or more Mens are very simpler Childerns take $2 off tops and pants.

I too used to do a monthly shop at salvo’s but have recently stoped due to the rudeness of staff and stop of 50% discounts to pensioners now i can shop elsewhere like kmart, best and less etc for cheaper and better quality, Now I’m talking to family and friends about holding a garage sale to sell and give away our second hand goods as I believe only a small percentage of the salvo’s money gets to where it’s needed.

If the price is too high don’t pay it unless you are planning to consider it as a donation to a worthy cause. The person behind the counter may not be the most wonderful customer service person you have ever met, they might have bigger issues than you do. The world isn’t a perfect place, that’t why the Salvos do what they do. At least they are trying to help fix the problem, not add to it.

You could be right about the dumping fee LMT.

I do recall however that ABC 666 had some bloke from the Salvation Army on the radio last Easter after a particularly bad long-weekend of dumping and he was saying that it cost the Salvos about $50,000 a year to deal with the crap that people dump at the charity bins.

@Clown Killer

It is my understanding that charities are actually able to dispose for free at the Canberra tips.

Of course, that does not mean that the said charities don’t incur costs in collecting and disposing.

Felix, the reality is that the charities have to pay commerical rates to dispose of the majority of stuff left at ‘charity bins’. Put it this way – what would you pay for a wet 10 year old discount store mattress replete with urine and semen stains?

It seems that most of the stuff left by people really belongs at the tip but they’re simply too tight to cough up a couple of bucks to dump their rubish legitimately – instead passing on the cost to a charity.

If charities need to recover that cost through their stores then that’s just simple business practice – it’s a shame though that it’s the people at the ar$e end of the economic spectrum that rely on these stores who get shafted by the selfish dumpers.

It’s also worth remembering that the staff at the Salvos may suffer some form of mild brain damage, that can affect social interaction. Or suffer from PTSD. Or have had a really tough life. Such experiences don’t generally create “Prude & Trude” shop assistants. In any case, give me offhand over smarmy in a shop assistant any day.

If you listen to 2CC on Sat/Sun morning you quite often hear the same people selling different things each week. I always wondered where they get them from.

swamiOFswank said :

PS If you are a serial dumper, know that I see you from my office, and I do take down your vehicle description and number plates and give them to the Salvos on a regular basis. If you’re a thief lifting stuff that’s been dumped, know that it was me that called the Police on you…and that I enjoy your shock at being caught because you truly are the lowest form of human life.

So it’s illegal to dump stuff outside a charity bin or store (define “dump” – is it only “dumped” if it’s unuseable items or all items regardless?) and it’s also illegal to take said dumped stuff from out front of the bin or store…rules are a bit ambiguous!

I’m a frequent Op-shopper and find the prices in ACT are much higher than anywhere else I’ve ever been. You want cheap op shops? Head for places with lots of low income families – so far Mayfield Lifeline in Newcastle is by far the winner (better quality goods, much cheaper price) and a 2 minute walk away from a salvo’s store.
Salvos are great value for homewares but their clothing is often priced way too high in my opinion.
Rather than haggle, I pay the ticketed price because I am able to afford it and I know the money goes to a better place. But my shopping trips are becoming more infrequent because I seem to end up spending more money each time for much the same amount of goods.

I’m a frequent flyer at Mitchell Salvos. Great store and usually great cheap stuff. The staff team there are hard working – I’d take my hat off to them really, but yes, they’re opinionated at times, yes they can seem to be impatient as well. Part of the reason is the serial dumpers who can’t be arsed taking their stuff to Revolve or the tip or whatever…and dump an endless array of broken tv’s, useless computer monitors, broken items, filthy mattresses etc piled up out the front overnight or on weekends.

Wonder why the things they sell aren’t as cheap as they used to be? It’s probably your unwanted crap causing them unwanted hassle and cost that they have to recover. Wonder why they might have attitude? They’re sick of yours – if you’re a dumper.

If you want to donate stuff to Mitchell Salvos, call in and ask them if they can take/would like your stuff. They don’t always have room for a 17th stained sofa, or a 2nd hand king sized mattress.

If you want stuff cheap and/or free because you’re a bit pov or hard-up…go see the Salvo’s welfare centre at Dickson. They’ll give you vouchers for whatever you need from the Salvo’s stores. If you can’t bring yourself to go, you probably don’t need the stuff that much, do you?

Finally, I know that the ladies in Mitchell Salvos do take crims doing community service time, and they do take wayward teenagers to try to give them a chance/experience/references for future employment elsewhere. They have also gone out of their way many times over to help out people in desperate need. Give the Salvo’s team a break – they’re doing their own kind of awesome community service.

PS If you are a serial dumper, know that I see you from my office, and I do take down your vehicle description and number plates and give them to the Salvos on a regular basis. If you’re a thief lifting stuff that’s been dumped, know that it was me that called the Police on you…and that I enjoy your shock at being caught because you truly are the lowest form of human life.

Irrespective of Genie’s motives, the point made in their post is still valid. Op Shops in Canberra are very expensive. Are the people that do need to shop there able to, or do they now just go to Kmart etc? Do they give discounts to sole parents, OAPs etc

Possibly the shops take the view that half the stuff is bought by people needing something for a 70s/80s/90s party. I know that’s what I and other friends did years ago, but we also nearly always donated it back (yes, after cleaning). These days, I’d rather just give a cash donation.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Incidentally, what emotion do you have reserved for something that’s really ‘utterly disgusting’? You know, like child abuse? Maybe the Salvos could set up a stall: “PERSPECTIVE – HALF PRICE!”

+1

Nail on the head WMC.

I love your work WMC!

Incidentally, what emotion do you have reserved for something that’s really ‘utterly disgusting’? You know, like child abuse? Maybe the Salvos could set up a stall: “PERSPECTIVE – HALF PRICE!”

BerraBoy68 said :

I’ve given up on taking stuff to charities it now either goes into a garage sale or Revolve.

I’ve had Aussie Junk knock back useable/saleable items that I’ve tried to give them!

Clown Killer said :

It seems that some disappointment might be expected if a suite of items are in a box marked “$0.50 an item” and then at the counter the sales assistant says “Well actually for you – it’s $2.00 an item”. That said, it is my understanding that legally the seller can ask whatever they wish – the price tag only being indicative of the price that they may be prepared to accept.

Sorry to double post but spot-on, CK. Whether you’re buying a toy, a book or a house it’s a contract and the price tag is only an offer that you are open to accept or not. Haggling over a price is justified and is just negotiation in its base form.

And further to my last post (lest anybody call me a miserable sod) I still support charities with both my time and cash, just not used goods.

I can understand Genie’s frustration. It seems that charities have become more selective in recent times in what they want people to donate as well. I recall times past when they would welcome second hand (but still in good condition) whitegoods, beds etc for those in need.

Last time we moved house, however, we had a huge pile of stuff that was rarely if ever used that we wanted to donate. When the truck came around most of the stuff was rejected as it wasn’t ‘new enough’ for their use. I’ve even heard it suggested that charities would prefer goods to be boxed in their original packaging before it will be considered as acceptable. Apparently even those in need these days can afford to be choosy in what they want. I can understand the need to ensure people aren’t using the charities as a dumping ground for old goods but I’ve heard this same issue raised by quite a few people now. I’ve given up on taking stuff to charities it now either goes into a garage sale or Revolve.

Dont go there again. Simple. Stop complaining. Its the Salvos FFS. If you cant afford to pay to help others start sewing/making toys.

It seems that some disappointment might be expected if a suite of items are in a box marked “$0.50 an item” and then at the counter the sales assistant says “Well actually for you – it’s $2.00 an item”. That said, it is my understanding that legally the seller can ask whatever they wish – the price tag only being indicative of the price that they may be prepared to accept.

Actually, regardless of her buying practices and reasons for raiding the store, Genie is correct about the Salvos being expensive these days. I sometimes pop in to look for knitting patterns and have a browse. A lot of the clothes are nothing special (not some retro item that could deserve a high price tag). They are generally garments that are similar in design and fabric to what low priced chains (KMart, Target) are selling – the only difference is they are more expensive in Salvos and in worse condition.

They get the prices “wrong” both ways. The Fyshwick store sold a Moran sofa in perfect condition with linen upholstery and down cushions for $250 a few weeks ago. New value $4000 +. Whether it was priced that way by accident and sold to a lucky member of the public, or priced for sale to an alerted insider – who knows?

I I have some sympathy for Genie. Nobody likes change. Once she could fill up a bag of stuff and it wasn’t checked and she could raid the store. At least in this regard the store workers are being more professional. Given that Genie would appear to have some experience with retail she could help out by providing some staff training so that the charity can more effectively assist those that need it.

Danman said :

So genie, you’re yet to answer the following – what do you need a garbage bag full of childrens toys every month for?

If it is the fact that you are on selling them, you must feel huge making a profit off a charity

Danman – Most of the toys I get I spend days cleaning and fixing up and usually use them as lucky dips for childrens parties, gifts etc.

And I’m with Sepi. I don’t think any of you people criticising me actually go shop at the Salvo’s stores. Take some time and go out there and you tell me if you think it reasonable to charge $2 for a McDonald’s Happy Meal toy. Or $10 for an old tattered Beanie Baby just because it still has its original price tag on it. As for their clothes, I can buy cheaper brand new stuff for less at the local Kmart.

The point I have been trying to get across is this is a CHARITY store. Years ago everything donated was handed out to the poor, then they decided to open the store where anyone on their low income card or pension card got anything they wanted FOR FREE, then they decided to only offer a 50% discount. Now its take it or leave it at the marked price. I also know for a fact that some staff members used to take home all the decent stuff donated and sell it or keep it for themselves. Yet I’m the greedy one?

was harranged by one of the staff who wanted to charge me $40 for a chipped mirror

Did it have a price tag that said “$40??

Er. No it didnt. No price tag. The girl behind the counter originally said I could have it for $10. I agreed and asked her to stash it while I went off and looked for other stuff.
When I came back, the matriach of the counter said that it was 40 bucks.
And FYI, Salvos fyshwick deliberatly stopped pricing their furniture so you HAVE to haggle with them.

Salvos stores earn money for the poor so that the money their parishioners donate at church can go to the upkeep of the religious elite and the church building, instead of having to instead support the poor.

Just boycott religion and move on, like the rest of society has.

All of the people standing up for the Salvo’s rights to charge rip off prices, to make money to support the poor. I hope you actually shop there. they won’t have money to continue their good works when they have turned away all their customers through really high prices.

el said :

WTF? Haggling with a charity? One party of this story definitely *is* being a greedy bugger, but I don’t think it’s the Salvos…

There’s some strange people with strange hobbies in Canberra…

+ 1.

I personally think the Salvos do a great job and don’t begrudge them one bit.
They’re the ones giving their time and doing the work that others don’t.

Thank God for the Salvos.

I was harranged by one of the staff who wanted to charge me $40 for a chipped mirror

Did it have a price tag that said “$40”?

Hey folks, I think this post is a rather feeble attempt at satire – at least I hope so, because if it’s not, Genie needs to seriously get a life.

“These days they only care about the money.”

funny that… i thought all charities were about the money!

WTF? Haggling with a charity? One party of this story definitely *is* being a greedy bugger, but I don’t think it’s the Salvos…

There’s some strange people with strange hobbies in Canberra…

Genie said

I used to take in a garbage bag of old clothes, and normally I was able to swap it for a few other items. These days they only care about the money.

Again, I really think you need to get a bit of perspective. As has also been pointed out by numerous others, they need the money to do their work, so hardly surprising that they care about it with so much extra demand for their services.

Genie, I’m with you.
They ARE overpriced! A couple of years ago, I noticed that the Salvos were starting to charge incresingly higher prices for lower quality stuff. When I started seeing second hand G0-LO stuff there for more than it is new, I knew they had lost the plot.
The staff ARE rude. At the fyshwick store, I was harranged by one of the staff who wanted to charge me $40 for a chipped mirror and when I suggested that it was only worth about $15, she basically accused me of being a scab in front of other customers and then refused to sell it to me.
I haven’t been back and now prefer to give all my donations and do all my op-shopping to Vinnies, who by the way, held an awesome garage sale last weekend…

So genie, you’re yet to answer the following – what do you need a garbage bag full of childrens toys every month for?

If it is the fact that you are on selling them, you must feel huge making a profit off a charity

Genie said:
“Charities are different to stores, if I was at a garage sale or Trash n Treasure and offered someone $5 for an item they had price at $6 they would most likely take it as they want the money and to get rid of their stuff. Charity stores used to be the same”.

“I used to take in a garbage bag of old clothes, and normally I was able to swap it for a few other items. These days they only care about the money.”

That is because they happen to be a charity.

Don’t act like they owe you anything because you donate clothing and are willing to ‘take it off their hands’ for much less than they are asking.

Please get your head out of your arse and not complain about a charity wanting money so they can operate and help people because you’re just being petty.

Dougal said :

“I am utterly disgusted that a charity who receives all their goods for free, aren’t even willing to look after customers who donate items every time they go out there”

Your old socks aren’t gonna pay their rent sweetheart

I used to take in a garbage bag of old clothes, and normally I was able to swap it for a few other items. These days they only care about the money.

As to the moron who posted this article in the first place. Seriously you’re complaining about them charging you for purchases when you buy 50-100 items. Only someone sourcing items to on sell buys that much stuff. So if you can find a cheaper supplier go ahead, but I somehow doubt you can.

Oh ok – So I’m a moron now… I’m not necessarily fussed with paying for the items. Its more the way the store treats its customers – The getting treated of disgust because the staff member has to individually price up the items I’m buying. If a checkout operator at the local Coles or Woolies reacted the same way – you would all be complaining.

As for the price of the items, taking up 10 items from a box labelled 50cent each then getting told “oh no wait that is new with a tag – so thats $2. Thats quite a large item so thats $10. ” My main concern was the Salvo’s pricing themselves out of the market, and simply pushing customers away who spend money there quite often. Or watching valuable money walk out the door as they aren’t willing to barter anymore. 12months ago it was the norm to walk into a Salvo’s store, pick out an outfit that was priced at perhaps $50 – and offer them $40 for it and they would be quite happy to take your money. Charities are different to stores, if I was at a garage sale or Trash n Treasure and offered someone $5 for an item they had price at $6 they would most likely take it as they want the money and to get rid of their stuff. Charity stores used to be the same.

I don’t plan on donating anything to the Salvo’s ever again. My donations will be going to other charities.

If it rubs you up so much, file a complaint with the ACCC.

Just post a copy of the reply here to provide us some entertainment.

“I am utterly disgusted that a charity who receives all their goods for free, aren’t even willing to look after customers who donate items every time they go out there”

Your old socks aren’t gonna pay their rent sweetheart

“NOW they wanna pull every item out one by one and count them and then have a go at your because they have to count through over 50-100 items and tally up the individual amounts. (this can take up to half an hour)”

Have you actually ever been to a retail shop? Paying for what you take out of the place is actually a common occurrence, and dare I say it – the law.

I must admit their prices are high at the Salvo, when you can go to GO LOW, MILLERS,and buy for the same price, I will often go to St Vinnies, or the Christian Centre at Charnwood, or the cheap shops, I want to buy things for the orphange in Bali, I will go back to Bali sometime next year.

They need the money because they are moving to larger premises soon – the old porn shop in Hoskins St.

Aussie Junk were similar as in they used to sell what a lot of the time really was rubbish, for quite high prices, when a similar new item was available in a discount store for a similar or sometimes cheaper price.

sepi said :

Op shops are starting to price themselves out of the market I think. Junk shops like Go Lo are cheaper than Salvos etc half the time.

Apart from the obvious fact you’re comparing purchasing from a charity who puts their profits towards the needy with a private enterprise who puts it’s money towards it’s shareholders, I’d also point out that those low, low prices offered by Go-Lo were unsustainable and led to the company going into receivership earlier this year and having to be sold by the receivers. Hardly a good business plan for charity retailers to adopt.

As to the moron who posted this article in the first place. Seriously you’re complaining about them charging you for purchases when you buy 50-100 items. Only someone sourcing items to on sell buys that much stuff. So if you can find a cheaper supplier go ahead, but I somehow doubt you can.

sepi said :

Op shops are starting to price themselves out of the market I think. Junk shops like Go Lo are cheaper than Salvos etc half the time.

Always thought this in Canberra. Went to one store many years ago, possibly Koomari in Tuggers and the prices were way over the top.

Op shops are starting to price themselves out of the market I think. Junk shops like Go Lo are cheaper than Salvos etc half the time.

I saw a computer desk in the Salvo store at Tuggers the other day. It had a few dings and scratches, but overall not a bad desk. Price tag on it was $250. Funny thing is I have the exact same desk at home, we got it from Target a year ago for just under $150 (without the dings and scratches)…….Caveat emptor……If the Salvo staff give you an unrealistic price for something just tell ’em they’re dreamin.

You’re buying 50-100 items from a charity shop, and get upset because they want you to pay. Umm, ok…

It’s probably good that they’re charging market rates for things. More money to give to charity in that case.

It is a charity and generally survives on the profits of these stores. Maybe you should think about the bigger picture and realise that it’s tough economic times for charities as well and it’s understandable they’re trying to maximise the amount of money they earn so as they can meet the greater demand for their servce.

Koomari at Belconnen met its demise in this way. They were seen refusing to discount school shoes to the amount of money the mother had in her purse, even though she begged with many tears. I never went back after that incident.

I hope the Salvos aren’t going the same way. They’ve been really good to more than a few people.

Shop charges customer for goods. News at eleven.

Hmmm Genie “monthly raid” in your first sentence says it all really!

So if you aren’t selling this stuff on, what the dickens are you doing with it all? Not that it matters really, I’m just intrigued… I’m picturing slighty deranged bag lady with a house chock full of second hand toys to keep her and her 15 cats company.

Wait, wait, wait. You donate to charity and expect a discount in return, and you’re disgusted with them?

Not all of the staff are volunteers or paid staff members; some are undertaking court ordered community service.