Houston Council Member Blasts Red Cross, Says It's a Waste of Money

For years skepticism has grown over how the American Red Cross uses the funds it raises during natural disasters. With 2017's hurricane season drawing droves of organizations and philanthropists to aid relief efforts in the devastated areas of the South and South East, the humanitarian giant is finally being chopped down to size, as critics urge the public to curve them for alternative charities. Whereas in the past, the Red Cross was the go-to celebrities would encourage donors to hook up with, such notable figures are increasingly asking that supporters research local organizations with a track record for getting aid directly to those impacted. Even lawmakers are beginning to advocate against going through the A.R.C, as is currently the case in Houston, where Dave Martin of the City Council hasn't been holding back on his condemnation of the agency's work in the wake of Harvey.

"They are the most inept, unorganized organization I've ever experienced," Martin told the Council last week. Martin, who represents Kingwood, voiced his frustration over all of the funds the institution benefits from thanks to the attention it still gets in the mainstream media, albeit to his determination, most of the work to service the people and initiate the rebuilding process is being done by the government. He capped off his grievance by advising that if citizens have resources to spare, they ought to “Give it to another cause.”

A spokesperson for the Red Cross, Maryjane Mudd has since responded to Martin by claiming that the A.R.C. has dispensed 1,500 volunteers and served over 700,000 with meals while sheltering some 40,000 people. "I know the plan was there. The process has worked very well," Mudd told the Chronicle. Last week Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern took to CBS This Morning to dispute accusations that the agency spends most of its money on overhead. According to McGovern, the A.R.C. spends "On average, 91 cents of every dollar" on services carried out by its volunteers. She did not spare specifics in the capacity to which such services translate to victims being serviced.

Source: vibe.com