Absent Conscience

There are those who scorn the work done by the Salvation Army.  Even many who are themselves engaged in charitable work, representatives of churches that open their basements to providing soup kitchens for the homeless, and places where they may stay overnight as shelter from the elements feel that charity should emerge through a pure sense of altruism. 

These churches and their representatives do not press the needy to reciprocate by pledging allegiance to their church, they proffer and those in need receive.

There is a sense of superiority over the fact that the Salvation Army while providing assistance to the desperate also make an effort toward salvation.  As they were originally mandated to do; to attract those without spiritual guidance from above to the source that would provide them with the assurance of a caring, omniscient spirit. 

On the other hand, enough of the public recognize the need is great and any source of comfort should be respected.

By any measure the Salvation Army has illuminated itself as a great provider of comfort and sustenance to those in need.  It has distinguished itself beyond reproach and those who still find it in them to find fault are rather mean-spirited, indulging in no little amount of condescension. 

Through organized fundraising appeals to the public, through the resale of used goods in their well-regarded thrift shops, through a Christmas fund campaign, the Sally Ann funds its life-saving activities.

It is difficult to comprehend then, that there are those in positions of trust, knowing full well the public service that this venerable organization provides to society, and being themselves representative of that reputation and that work, take it upon themselves to deprive both the entity they represent and those whom they serve of the means to do so.

A quarter of a million in donations has been found missing through an audit, and the suspect is none other than the Ottawa Booth centre's executive director.  He has been fired from his position and there is a police investigation into the matter.  Conscience?  One imagines there is one, and one imagines there is an intriguing story behind the exploitation of trust.

And another story has emerged, mere days later, of a former executive director of a Toronto-based Salvation Army facility charged with misappropriating an immense amount of donated toys, valued at $2-million.  He had stealthily, over time, removed the toys to another warehouse from which he was busy selling them. 

He is charged with 17 counts of possession of property obtained by crime, 10 counts of theft over $5,000, seven counts of theft under $5,000.  From a commitment to serving the underprivileged, the homeless, the working poor and the needy in society to serving oneself, first and foremost.