Content warning: This article mentions of sexual assault.
Every year, I hear that familiar twinkle of a bell beyond the automatic doors. Throughout my entire life, that chime has been as consistent as a Christmas tree. The Holiday season marks the return of the red bucket swinging outside Publix as two volunteers stand beyond the grocery store boundary, red aprons synching their waists, boasting the white text “DOING THE MOST GOOD.” I never doubted that claim as a child because I had no reason to; however, new information presents a different side to such a boastful slogan.
The Salvation Army’s classic red color has become synonymous with charity and warm hearts. The Salvation Army was first formed in 1852 by William Booth, a man dedicated to bringing Jesus Christ directly to those in need. Their Red Kettle campaign began in 1891, when one of the organization’s officers wanted to fundraise for the community Christmas meal. The ringing bells and red buckets awaiting donations are iconic symbols of the organization and are often paired with the phrase “sharing is caring.”
On paper, the Salvation Army appears to be a promising organization to donate to. I’ve tossed plenty of bills and coins into those Army kettles, proud of myself for doing good and giving back to my community. The rattle of coins knocking against the hollow bucket sounded like applause for my selflessness; however, before tossing spare funds to a bell-ringing Santa, there are some scandals and testimonies from those who have both worked at, and received shelter, from the Salvation Army that lift the red curtain the Army keeps drawn tight.
The Salvation Army has faced many controversies that it works hard to keep out of the public eye, and these accounts should be carefully considered before your money finds its way into that red kettle rather than other local organizations.
“A welcome, safe place for all”
In the winter of 2019, Chick-fil-A made headlines after publicly denouncing and ceasing donations to the Salvation Army. It was speculated that this action was directly due to the Army’s stance on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ Americans, but what, exactly, is the organization’s stance?
The Salvation Army’s website reads, “Any person who walks through our doors will receive assistance based on their need and our capacity to help. Our mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in His name without discrimination.” However, on every other Army page, such as the Canadian and Australian sites, there is no shyness about the definition of marriage applying only to a man and a woman.
The Salvation Army has a long, unfortunate past of neglecting LGBTQ+ people in need and actively resisting legislation supporting the cause of same-sex marriage and sexual equality. In 1998, the Salvation Army pulled funding and scaled back programs meant to assist the elderly and the homeless in San Francisco, claiming it could no longer fund them because it would no longer accept city funding. The reason? San Francisco’s city ordinance required the Army to honor the partnership of any queer or gay employees.
Another controversy that landed the Salvation Army in a pot of hot water was the terrible treatment of Jodielynn Wiley, a transgender woman in Dallas, Texas. In 2014, Wiley was denied shelter by the Salvation Army after applying for a two-year housing program due to her not having medically transitioned. Thankfully, Wiley was able to secure shelter through the Dallas Trans* Housing Project.
Of course, it’s easy for one to observe all of these scandals and say, “But look at how long ago these were, the Salvation Army must have changed!” This article has only touched on the beginning of a dark history, supported by many personal accounts across all social media platforms. It is not out of stubbornness that queer people, women, and non-Christian Americans continue to avoid supporting the Salvation Army. Its troubling past of discrimination and mistreatment leaves a taste too sour for some to ignore, especially when there is an abundance of charities requesting attention and help at a local level.
The Salvation Army versus @milknmuffins
In 2017, Twitter user @milknmuffins took to the online platform to warn her followers and others: “Hey. As a homeless person staying at a Salvation Army shelter… Please don’t donate to the Salvation Army.” The now-suspended Muffins continued her thread, posting about her terrible experiences at her SAFE shelter and the mistreatment of other women she has witnessed.
To summarize her main points, Muffins claimed to have watched abused women be kicked from the shelter for mouthing off to those working at the SAFE. She reports that she and many other women had several of their possessions go missing, all while signs in the bathroom threaten to prosecute women for using too much toilet paper. When women were thrown out for offenses that were much more insignificant, if they did not return to collect their belongings, they would be confiscated and sold at thrift stores alongside donations.
Additionally, Muffins claimed that when a friend at the shelter tried to take the issue to Army higher-ups, she was given “the middle finger.” She said that this friend had been verbally assaulted by an employee and thrown out for “disrespect” after asking the employee to keep their voice down during the friend’s call with her surgeon. The full thread has been embedded below for those who wish to read Muffins’s account of the situation, word for word.
After the Salvation Army got word of the controversy making the rounds and garnering more attention, Muffins returned to her account to report that she had been kicked out of the shelter for making the environment “unsafe.”
Allegedly, staff members doctored a screenshot from Muffins’s Twitter in which she threatened to r*pe a staff member, although there is no documentation proving this. Muffins was unable to document the alleged fake tweet. Still, the Salvation Army’s X account addressed the issue, writing, “We understand you’re upset, however you agreed to the following terms which help make SAFES peaceful for everyone.” This all took place after Muffins was asked which shelter she was at, with the Salvation Army promising to address the issues she had brought to light.
While Muffins’s original account has now been suspended from X for unknown reasons, the original thread of tweets has been documented on Tumblr and repeatedly reblogged by the account @saynotothesalvos.
Uplifting the community this Christmas
Instead of donating to the Salvation Army, consider donating to a new charity — after researching — that operates at a much more local level. Orlando has a fantastic number of local charities working hard to uplift their communities.
If you have the time to volunteer, consider donating your time to Orlando’s People’s Free Kitchen, which brings in volunteers each week to prepare locally grown fruits and veggies for those in need. There is also People’s Freedom Farm, where the food is grown.
Another Orlando-based organization is Adriana’s Attic. On the last Sunday of each month, volunteers gather to prepare meals for the homeless in the city. So often, we forget the luxury of being clean and well-kept, which is why Adriana’s Attic also puts together hygiene packs. The website also includes links to donation sites for those unable to volunteer.
Finally, don’t ignore the importance of supporting the local LGBTQ+ community, especially this Christmas. Across all social media platforms, GoFundMe’s links are abundant. Many transgender men and women are struggling to make ends meet this winter, and a couple of dollars could help pay for someone’s groceries that week or help them make rent.
Do not let the Salvation Army’s misdoings turn off the concept of charity — doing good deeds does not stop at the Red Kettle and bell-ringing Santa. It is not a question of trusting those in need; it is a matter of how to get resources directly to them.