MSNBC Ridicules Romney for Collecting Food and Supplies for Sandy Victims

[BrianFromWA]

I'm a little surprised Obama chose to go back on the campaign trail. Not just because it opens him to criticism (out campaigning after just 2 days!) but because he was probably doing himself much more good appearing presidential in NJ than he does appearing like a candidate in Ohio.

That also something I don't get. I mean, if ever you needed a "Sorry, I'd love to play your silly campaign games, but I have big boy work to do now--I'm the leader of the free world" moment, it would seem to be this week.

 

[Denny Crane]

I think people are missing the snopes link from the OP.

Red Cross wants cash donations. They don't tell you they're not going to use the $10 you send them to help the people you want to help today.

Giving canned goods means you can raid your pantry rather than having to come up with cash.

And they actually need the canned goods in many places. They're without power to run refrigerators, you know. Oddly, MSNBC this morning had a first responder type on the phone and she was asking for canned goods to be air dropped (if necessary).

 

[porkchopexpress]

I think people are missing the snopes link from the OP.

Red Cross wants cash donations. They don't tell you they're not going to use the $10 you send them to help the people you want to help today.

Giving canned goods means you can raid your pantry rather than having to come up with cash.

And they actually need the canned goods in many places. They're without power to run refrigerators, you know. Oddly, MSNBC this morning had a first responder type on the phone and she was asking for canned goods to be air dropped (if necessary).

Yeah, but if you get 1000 (or however many it was) people to donate something (of their choosing), you're going to end up with a logistical nightmare. Donating bulk items is a different story. In fact the quote in your OP says

3. If you’d like to donate large amounts of items, work directly with organizations that deal with donating bulk supplies, which can help large numbers of people in the affected community.

What they are requesting sounds more like a pallet of can goods, not a bunch of people filling a pallet with all of their random donations.

 

[Denny Crane]

The only logistical nightmare is the roads are flooded so getting food everywhere it may be needed is a challenge.

 

[porkchopexpress]

The only logistical nightmare is the roads are flooded so getting food everywhere it may be needed is a challenge.

But don't you think distributing huge quantities of a handful of items is much more efficient than small quantities of thousands of different items? I'm not saying this was purely a political move, but there is valid reasons to why they wouldn't want individuals to organize donations in this manner. Even the quote you use as proof supports this.

 

[mobes23]

Further proof that this election needs to be over and done with: we are discussing whether uniform pallets or mixed pallets of canned goods is an appropriate response in a hurricane situation.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

But don't you think distributing huge quantities of a handful of items is much more efficient than small quantities of thousands of different items? I'm not saying this was purely a political move, but there is valid reasons to why they wouldn't want individuals to organize donations in this manner. Even the quote you use as proof supports this.

not at all. walk into your local food bank. ther recieve randon donations to large lots. they break it down for distribution.

 

[Denny Crane]

But don't you think distributing huge quantities of a handful of items is much more efficient than small quantities of thousands of different items? I'm not saying this was purely a political move, but there is valid reasons to why they wouldn't want individuals to organize donations in this manner. Even the quote you use as proof supports this.

There were other food drives for the hurricane victims, FWIW.

I don't think "efficient" has any meaning here. It's obviously best to get the food to where it needs to be. Sorting it is a small detail vs. people starving waiting for it to be ordered, delivered, sorted, etc.

 

[mook]

http://www.slate.com/articles/busin...eed_your_money_not_your_random_old_food_.html

Katherina Rosqueta, executive director of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania, explains that food providers can get what they need for “pennies on the dollar.” She estimates that they pay about 10 cents a pound for food that would cost you $2 per pound retail. You’d be doing dramatically more good, in basic dollars and cents terms, by eating that tuna yourself and forking over a check for half the price of a single can of Chicken of the Sea.
Beyond the economies of scale are the overhead costs. Charities are naturally reluctant to turn down donations for fear of alienating supporters or demoralizing well-wishers, but the reality is that dealing with sporadic surges of cans is a logistical headache. A nationwide network of food banks called Feeding America gingerly notes on its website that “a hastily organized local food drive can actually put more strain on your local food bank than you imagine.” Food dropped off by well-meaning citizens needs to be carefully inspected and sorted. A personal check, by contrast, can be used to order what’s needed without placing extra burdens on the staff.
A lot of waste also occurs on the other side of the food-donation equation. Rosqueta observes that a surprisingly large proportion of food—as much as 50 percent—provided to needy families in basic boxes winds up going uneaten. When you go to the grocery store, after all, you don’t come home with a random assortment of stuff. You buy food that you like, that you know how to prepare, and that your family is willing to eat. A donation box with high-sodium soups could end up going to people with high blood pressure, and nuts could end up being donated to families with allergic kids. Social service providers know their clients better and, with cash in hand, can pull together items people are likely to want and let them pick what they need, cutting down on waste.

 

[porkchopexpress]

There were other food drives for the hurricane victims, FWIW.

I don't think "efficient" has any meaning here. It's obviously best to get the food to where it needs to be. Sorting it is a small detail vs. people starving waiting for it to be ordered, delivered, sorted, etc.

I'm just saying why it makes sense for the Red Cross to want either bulk volume of items or money vs. normal food donations. That is probably how they have planned to deal with massive relief efforts and therefore that is how they are best suited to provide help. I wasn't trying to say Romney is evil for asking for people to bring food/supplies or that he wasn't helping with the relief effort. If I was voting for him, or on the fence, this wouldn't sway me one way or the other.

 

[mook]

I'm just saying why it makes sense for the Red Cross to want either bulk volume of items or money vs. normal food donations. That is probably how they have planned to deal with massive relief efforts and therefore that is how they are best suited to provide help. I wasn't trying to say Romney is evil for asking for people to bring food/supplies or that he wasn't helping with the relief effort. If I was voting for him, or on the fence, this wouldn't sway me one way or the other.

I agree.

I think the big takeaway I've gathered after reading up on this issue is that when I donate from now on I'll go with:

1. Blood drive - Hard for that to go wrong. I've got the sweet, drug-and-AIDS-free, wholesome good red stuff.

2. Money - Much better bang for buck.

3. Clothing - At least it's non-perishable, and at worst it goes to a Salvation Army-type place where it can be sold for value.

4. Food - I think there's still a great place for it. It makes you feel good to give a physical item, and even if it's poorly allocated and not the best bang for your donated buck, it makes you likely to talk to others and encourage them to get involved. Which is always good. I've volunteered in the past for the Idaho Food Bank, and I've seen firsthand how a couple boxes of donuts can brighten people's days. (See? Just patting myself on the back there to stroke my own ego maybe encourages somebody else to give it a try.)

 

[BrianFromWA]

how dare you talk about volunteering!?! This is a message board, not a confessional!

My food bank experience was that we had recipe books made up by some of the ladies in the church for "irregular" items (one I recall is a casserole that uses navy beans, black-eyed peas and tuna), but that normally people gave the "normal" stuff that they had in their cupboards. We had one Somalian single-mom family that was a semi-regular that we would use money from the deacons' fund to get halal (sp?) and kosher (which the daughter said was just as good) food for (Not a lot of halal/kosher experience in our Presbyterian church), but on the whole we didn't need to use a lot of cash to supplement what was donated. Turkeys and game hens at the holidays, formula for families with infants, but that's about it. We worked with a CSA for veggies and fruit.

 

[mook]

I'd add that I can see why Denny is dubious about donating money to the Red Cross. That snopes article does raise some good points about their track record of hording money.

I'd never donate to the United Way--those guys are just middlemen sucking up funds that they distribute to real organizations. Why give them a share when you can go straight to the source?

Most of my donations happen locally, at my kid's school, local food bank, etc. Also Doctors Without Borders.

I might make a cash donation to the New Jersey Food Bank or other locally impacted organizations. That seems like the most effective way to get resources to people who need it.

 

[Denny Crane]

I'm just saying why it makes sense for the Red Cross to want either bulk volume of items or money vs. normal food donations. That is probably how they have planned to deal with massive relief efforts and therefore that is how they are best suited to provide help. I wasn't trying to say Romney is evil for asking for people to bring food/supplies or that he wasn't helping with the relief effort. If I was voting for him, or on the fence, this wouldn't sway me one way or the other.

I think he was doing the most he could.

I don't think Maddow wants to talk about this:

http://global.christianpost.com/new...s-encourages-supporters-to-follow-suit-84252/

 

[Denny Crane]

I'd add that I can see why Denny is dubious about donating money to the Red Cross. That snopes article does raise some good points about their track record of hording money.

I'm not dubious about donating money to the Red Cross or other organizations. They claim to always be in need of money and canned goods and so on. It's just when there's a big event like this, they can raise a lot of money and spread it around across causes that don't get so much press.

my point is that if you think you're helping people who are stuck in the remains of their homes, with no power and heat, in the cold weather, cash may not be making its way there at all. When some family has their house burned down in Idaho next month, your donation may help those people.

 

[Denny Crane]

Send cash!

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video/#!/...y-Starved-New-Yorkers-Dumpster-Dive/176839571

(Or park that truck full of stuff Romney collected right next to that dumpster and let the people take what they need?)

 

[Denny Crane]

Make of this what you will.

http://politicker.com/2012/11/staten-island-borough-president-dont-give-money-to-the-red-cross/

Staten Island Borough President: Don’t Give Money to the Red Cross

At a press conference this morning on Staten Island, a host of local officials, including Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, gathered to highlight the needs of the hard-hit borough in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. And, although many pols spoke, no one was more impassioned than Borough President James Molinaro, who called the Red Cross an “absolute disgrace” and even urged the public to cease giving them contributions.

 

[porkchopexpress]

I think he was doing the most he could.

I don't think Maddow wants to talk about this:

http://global.christianpost.com/new...s-encourages-supporters-to-follow-suit-84252/

Not taking anything away from Romney's effort, but from your link.

While the organization was grateful for the donation, according to its website the American Red Cross usually "does not accept or solicit individual donations or collections of items," because processing such donations, "impedes the valuable resources of money, time, and personnel."
Read more at http://global.christianpost.com/new...ers-to-follow-suit-84252/#aM3cjy3kwEBXqm2o.99

I'm sure that is EXACTLY what Maddow wants to talk about.

 

[Denny Crane]

Not taking anything away from Romney's effort, but from your link.



I'm sure that is EXACTLY what Maddow wants to talk about.

What does "individual donations" mean to you?

 

[Denny Crane]

http://foresthills.patch.com/articles/coats-canned-goods-volunteers-needed-in-queens

Coats, Canned Goods, Volunteers Needed in Queens

 

[Denny Crane]

Not taking anything away from Romney's effort, but from your link.



I'm sure that is EXACTLY what Maddow wants to talk about.

maybe this will clarify things some:

http://www.centex.redcross.org/gene...CTA=1&SN=14324&OP=14463&IDCapitulo=f9zlznz3kd

The Red Cross is unable to accept small, individual donations or collections of items such as clothing, food or cleaning supplies.

(small being the most important word in that sentence)

It then goes on to read:

If you are interested in donating a large, palletized quantity of non-perishable food, water or supplies, please contact Jessica Levine at (512) 929-1227. These types of donations are evaluated on a case by case basis.

To see a list of specific items we need, please view our Wish List .

 

[porkchopexpress]

What does "individual donations" mean to you?

What does "collection of donations" or "impedes the valuable resources of money, time, and personnel" mean to you?

 

[Denny Crane]

What does "collection of donations" or "impedes the valuable resources of money, time, and personnel" mean to you?

It means if 2000 people drive up to a Red Cross facility with bags of canned goods, it's not good for them.

I also found this:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/sto...-effort-in-Ohio-for-victims-of-hurricane.html

The campaign asked for nonperishable donations despite the fact that the Red Cross does not typically accept or solicit individual donations or collections of items because of the extra labor involved with sorting, cleaning, repackaging and transporting such items.

Chris Maloney, a spokesman for the Romney campaign, said the campaign was aware of that, but had reached out and found out that the South Jersey of the American Red Cross was accepting donations. He said that Romney’s victory centers across the state were also accepting donations.

“Whatever the Red Cross is willing to accept we’ll be shipping to them,” he said. “At this point, they’re not willing to put a limit on what they’re willing to accept.”

 

[MARIS61]

He was the governor of Massachusetts. Dumb post, but that's your act, and I get it.

Did Obama visit Joplin, MO, immediately after the tornado, or Texas after the wildfires? Did he even visit North Carolina after people died there last year after their hurricane?

"Visits" by Presidents are time taken away from their ability to actually deal with the emergency at hand, by directing responses and signing orders.

Visits by political candidates are a self-serving distraction that leeches badly needed government officials away from their response to the emergency, exacerbates traffic and communication lines, and slows critical media information to the public.

 

[MARIS61]

The only place Romney sends his cash is to the Cayman Islands.

 

[porkchopexpress]

It means if 2000 people drive up to a Red Cross facility with bags of canned goods, it's not good for them.

I also found this:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/sto...-effort-in-Ohio-for-victims-of-hurricane.html

The campaign asked for nonperishable donations despite the fact that the Red Cross does not typically accept or solicit individual donations or collections of items because of the extra labor involved with sorting, cleaning, repackaging and transporting such items.

Chris Maloney, a spokesman for the Romney campaign, said the campaign was aware of that, but had reached out and found out that the South Jersey of the American Red Cross was accepting donations. He said that Romney’s victory centers across the state were also accepting donations.

“Whatever the Red Cross is willing to accept we’ll be shipping to them,” he said. “At this point, they’re not willing to put a limit on what they’re willing to accept.”

Well, again I was never saying Romney's camp did any wrong. I was just saying that the quote in your own link stated that they did not accept or solicit this type of donation because it is an extra burden on their limited number of volunteers. If they spoke with the Red Cross ahead of time to set this up, then good for them.

 

[Denny Crane]

Well, again I was never saying Romney's camp did any wrong. I was just saying that the quote in your own link stated that they did not accept or solicit this type of donation because it is an extra burden on their limited number of volunteers. If they spoke with the Red Cross ahead of time to set this up, then good for them.

From what I see, the kinds of things people donate at these drives are exactly what is needed, and ASAP, in many places devastated by the storm.

At some point, trucks will get through to the grocery stores with all the stuff people normally buy. But if the stores don't have power, they can't accept credit cards for payment.

 

[Further]

I think Romney did not want to politicize Sandy, and so he decided to turn the rally into something positive to support the victims. That is commendable. Most likely his camp then made the decision to collect cans, and that was perhaps not the best move, but not something they should be hammered about. There was not a ton of time to organize and I have no insight to suggest their motives were devious. If I were to take an issue at all with anything having to do with the Romney Sandy-support rally, it would be them showing a vote for Romney video at the event. But, once again I say that with such little time to organize and no overt politicizing, I give Mitt a complete pass on this.

 

[maxiep]

I don't give a shit what the reason is for people doing something charitable. The fact is they did it. Good for them. The fact that MSNBC had to find an excuse to criticize speaks volumes about their desperation.

 

[PapaG]

I don't give a shit what the reason is for people doing something charitable. The fact is they did it. Good for them. The fact that MSNBC had to find an excuse to criticize speaks volumes about their desperation.

Notice that "we need cash" is missing. Video at link.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlin...-residents-plead-for-help-3-days-after-sandy/

"Where is the government? Where is FEMA?"

‘We Need Food, We Need Clothing’: Staten Island Residents Plead for Help 3 Days After Sandy

The residents of Staten Island are pleading for help from elected officials, begging for gasoline, food and clothing three days after Sandy slammed the New York City borough.
“We’re going to die! We’re going to freeze! We got 90-year-old people!” Donna Solli told visiting officials. “You don’t understand. You gotta get your trucks down here on the corner now. It’s been three days!”
Staten Island was one of the hardest-hit communities in New York City. More than 80,000 residents are still without power. Many are homeless, and at least 19 people died on Staten Island because of the storm.
One of the devastated neighborhoods was overwhelmed by a violent surge of water. Residents described a super-sized wave as high as 20 feet, with water rushing into the streets like rapids.

Staten Island resident Mike Abuzzio’s home is completely gone, with only his floor boards remaining. He, his wife and their two young daughters have been staying with relatives.

“My youngest daughter yesterday said, ‘Daddy, I want to go,’” Abuzzio told ABC News. “I told her, ‘It’s going to be awhile, hon.’ She doesn’t understand. She’s 6.”
In the rubble that was once his home, Abuzzio found one clean, intact plate of Christmas china. He said that plate will be special at Christmastime and will be used specifically for his mother’s cookies.
For 48 hours after the storm, search teams were hunting for two Staten Island brothers, just 2- and 4-years-old. They were swept out of their mother’s arms when waves caused by storm surges crashed into the family’s SUV. Their small bodies were found today at the end of a dead-end street. Their parents were at the scene where the bodies were discovered.

Staten Island officials sounded increasingly desperate today, asking when supplies will arrive. They blasted the Red Cross for not being there when it counted.
“This is America, not a third world nation. We need food, we need clothing,” Staten Island Borough President Jim Molinaro said today. “My advice to the people of Staten Island is: Don’t donate the American Red Cross. Put their money elsewhere.”
The Red Cross and the National Guard arrived in the area late Tuesday and are distributing food, water and gas – and city officials say things are much better.
Molinaro urged New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Wednesday to cancel Sunday’s New York City Marathon. The race’s staging area is on Staten Island and Molinaro said it would be “crazy, asinine,” to have the race after what has happened.

“My God. What we have here is terrible, a disaster,” Molinaro said Wednesday. “If they want to race, let them race with themselves. This is no time for a parade. A marathon is a parade. Now is the time to put your shoulder to the wheel. If they want to prepare for something, let them prepare for the election, not a marathon.”
“Do you realize how many police officers you need for a marathon?” he asked. “There are people looting stores on Midland Avenue. There is looting taking place in the homes on the South Shore that were destroyed. That is where we need the police.”