Maureen O’Connell thought so anyway…
Have I missed something?
Never ever, ever give to the SVdP. They just top up the local alcoholics dole payments and clear all their bills for them when they get too high.
I’m not going into how I know the workings of it. But trust me. Never donate to them.
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Good for them.
That’s a load of shite anyway.
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That goes without saying mate.
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There’s some truth to it in fairness. Some people use them like an atm machine but thats not their fault really. People are cunts and you will always have chancers.
It isn’t. I’ve posted similar here before.
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I have heard of this as well. Some folks playing the poor mouth getting he SVDP to pay their bills and even pay for christmas while the parents are off doing jobs.
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A mugs game.
Gave the Hospice a good wedge this week. The work they do is outstanding.
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Q: What’s the difference between the Church and the SVdP?
A: de Church saves yo soul… de SVdP saves yo ass! 
The hospice yes, we know where that money goes. And it is very important work.
But i have a friend who is heavily involved in volunteer work, been in the media alot recently, and has worked in every shithole imaginable like Haiti, Chernobal, Congo etc. She says the vast majority of charities are ran by absolute scumbags and they never get anywhere near the money collected on the ground. Alot of the money and food etc ends up in li al politicians hands or tribal leaders as back hander to let anyone at all in. And much of the rest of it pays “wages”.
A look at what the top charity bosses get in ireland for salery is sickening.
That’s a bit harsh. There’s good and bad charities same as everything else. Whatever about the scumbags as you call them at the top, the people on the ground do trojan work at home and abroad. And in many cases abroad put their lives at risk doing so. Console as an example do excellent work which is in fairness provided by their volunteer base. There has been big changes in the last number of years about governance standards and transparency in the sector so it’s should hopefully get much harder for cunts to cream off the top. Up to a few years ago any clown could set up a charity get tax clearance etc. It’s not so easy now. The amazing thing about console is how that bollix got away with it for so long.
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Dunno, Kevin.
All I can say is comfort, reassurance & help is what Hospice provide. Down to earth people in my experience
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Giving to charity is a mugs game because you can be sure most of what you give will not end up in the hands of the most vulnerable who need it.
Regarding the St Vincent De Paul, its true I know for a fact that most of that money goes to paying bills and buying coal for the local alcoholics.
Some very unfair and misinformed comment about the St Vincent de Paul on this thread.
There is a local branch in our area and I’ve helped them out on occasions. Table quizzes, bucket collections etc. Would know the main organisers very well and they don’t get (or ask) for a single penny for their time. After every collection about four people are brought into a room and the amount collected is checked and double checked and treble checked so every cent raised is accounted for.
Not sure how they operate in other areas but in our area (which covers a small enough rural parish) cash payments are strictly forbidden to any beneficiaries. No exceptions. No direct cash payments, no clearing of outstanding bills etc.
Normally it’s food vouchers for Dunnes which is provided. Another main expense during the year is for coal and they also purchase kids Christmas presents for the worst off families under the guise of them coming from Santa. (basic presents, not PlayStations)
I’ve no doubt that bad practice has and does go on in other areas but locally the St Vincent de Paul do absolutely great work. People think there is little poverty in Ireland but there are so many people out there who are living week to week and have to budget penny for penny. Some absolutely shocking stories even from people living at home in awful situations who have been helped enormously by this charity.
Not saying they are perfect but just trying to provide a bit of balance to some of the comments on this thread. The only other charity I give money to is for cystic fibrosis, as they fundraise locally very heavily and it goes to people in the region. Would never give money to GOAL or Concern, personally.
That big lad who collects for Crumlin Childrens Hospital in the Big Tree on big match days in Croke Park must have caught me for a fortune over the years. I just can’t say no.
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I agree.
How is it harsh. Its the experience of someone with 20 years experience on the ground but also would be close enough to knowing most of the top knobs now.
I have no doubt there are many generous and selfless people invloved on a voluntary basis in the St Vincent De Paul. I would say as regards most other charities there is no skulduggery going on at the top with the higher ups taking the cream for themselves. However you have three posters here from different counties saying the same thing, that what they mostly do is enable alcoholics. I know of cases personally where alcoholics go to hell with themselves spending every bit of dole money they get having a good time, not giving a shit about their bills knowing full well the SvdP will give them a dig out and save the day when they go there cap in hand. I would say in most communities the people holding the purse strings at the SvdP would be seen as “soft touches”. Your community is more a rarity I would say.