09/14/05: Retail Employees Say Storm Victims Buying Expensive Gifts With Donated Mone

http://www.click2houston.com/money/4972026/detail.html

Galleria Workers Question Evacuee Debit Card Purchases

Retail Employees Say Storm Victims Buying Expensive Gifts With Donated Money

POSTED: 10:42 am CDT September 14, 2005

UPDATED: 10:55 am CDT September 14, 2005

HOUSTON -- Although thousands of evacuees are still in need of financial help, questions are being raised about how some of them are spending money on debit cards they received from the American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

Some employees at the Galleria said they saw storm victims using the debit cards to buy expensive gifts, like $250 bracelet, instead of on food or housing.

"I was upset because I donated money like a lot of people, and I think it should have just strictly been used for food and clothing and necessities … not luxury items that, I mean, I can't even afford," a Galleria employee, who asked to not be identified, told KPRC Local 2.

The Red Cross said it is aware of the problem but admitted that it cannot control where the money is spent.

Responses to this message:

• Well, they are just screwing themselves Theodoric
• It wouldn't be too hard to control how & where the debit cards are "spent". Throwing_Muses
• That's what happens when you give money to poor, uneducated people PsychoRabbit
• Some poor people are poor for a reason MR_MUCUS
• I suspect these idiots are a relatively small percentage Theodoric
• No way, Theo... PsychoRabbit
• Joking aside, what I meant with my first post: PsychoRabbit
• Ah, of course. Theodoric
• So now Junk_Yard_Dog
• Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day MR_MUCUS
• That's actually been a point of contention in welfare assistance here, PR Theodoric
• What the debit food stamp cards did was... Junk_Yard_Dog
• Yeah, that's it: RidingFool
• Exactly right, JYD Theodoric
• I agree with Psycho (to a point)... M_H
• It isn't charity if you quibble about how it is spent Rajah
• Charity begins at home MR_MUCUS
• How long are liberals gonna call stupidity "ignorance"? Soldier
• It's not meant to be charity, little Rajah... PsychoRabbit
• You're contradicting yourself, Soldier Theodoric
• M H grundle
• a general comment........ grundle
• This may surprise a lot of people here....... grundle
• If they gave every adult $20,000 to get back on their feet........ grundle
• Huh?^^^^ Rajah
• Who said they were uneducated, they're just poor TMundo
• Fair enough... M_H
• You've never been to Ann Arbor MR_MUCUS
• The thing about Ivory Tower liberals Junk_Yard_Dog
• Oh, I know all about "ivory tower liberals"... M_H
• Ebony and Ivory go together in perfect harmony Rajah
• I prefer Ivory soap liberals. gnosticdogma

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