The Salvation Army USA
reviews and complaints

I was the only white person when I arrived at the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Syracuse, while their was Hispanic and people of color ahead of me. Clearly they did not understand or speak English, as multiple signs informed people to sit and wait their turn. While I sat and waited my turn; more Hispanic and people of color arrived, they did not sit down, and staff allowed them to cut ahead, as white people do not need food as much as Hispanic and people of color

Dear to whom it may concern,
My name is Tamara, and I was shopping at your store Thursday, October 24 around 3:30 pm. I just wanted to let you know that I was looking for some coats and didn't know where they were, so I asked a floor associate if I'm not mistaken she had on a name tag that said Lucia. She was extremely rude to me, gave me a really big attitude for asking her twice and was extremely unprofessional like she didn't want to be there at all! I'm sorry I usually don't complain, but the way she treated me with such disrespect that makes me never want to come back to even shop. I work in Customer Service too, so I know what it's like but I don't think you should have rude and unprofessional people like her working at your store. If you would like to follow up with me so I can give you more details of what happened please feel free to call me anytime. My number is 248.785.8992. Thank you, and I'm sorry to complain again, I just felt really disrespected

BRiTtany and Nelly are employees at the Salvation Army who act as people trying to help but instead they give women with there children a difficult time by invading in there personal lives seeking past information from there past to manipulate and seek reasons to kick you out their shelter. I believe these women cannot relate to women who struggled with children because I heard and have seen them call DCFS on women and polices trying to diminish their image and threaten to kick them out and manipulate women who are dealing with mental illness to get their children taken away from them. They try to get you to tell your personal information to search and dig deep into these women to find reason to get them out the shelter. I am dealing with a situation with my son having a court order with the father knowingly know where I'm residing with my son; however, they told me my four year old son was consider a visitor and that he was not allowed on their property. I was provoke and threaten and stop at the door by Nelly an employee who works here as a "case manager" who told me my son was not allowed in the facility my children was scared and I was irate that she scaRed my kids. She then provoke me by telling me I needed to leave the building at 9:30 pm with no where to go eventhough I am in the shelter for a reason "I am homeless" she then told me that she was going to call the cops to escort me out and that they will take my son away from me and make my court situation worse. I was so upset by that and I knew my rights I also knew the police was going to side with me. After the police came they agreed with me and didn't tell me I had to leave. Couple days later we had a meeting with my DMH case manager BRiTtany and the director who clearly didn't do anything about the disrespect Nelly had cause me and the threats and the taunting and provoking me to get upset in front of my kids plus she had my kids scared. This facility is an all Mexican employee firm no African Americans no women who work here whom can relate to women with their struggles and having kids these women dont really help they act as if they are your mom or people who wants to control you but if you don't know who you are your rights they will try to belittle you and act as if they are "just doing their job" but clearly they mentally effect you allowing you to be upset and angry and hurt because of such damage they are causing making your living situation worse! They act as if they are a Christian facility that helps but they are completely the opposite they don't abide by what they stand for they cause more trouble than you are already in. I heard and spoke with other women how they effect them by personally digging through their life experiences using it against them. Also they act as if they are better these two woman need to be addressed or fired or transfer to facilities that best suites their knowledge because they have no idea what women with children go through please make this aware they come of untrustworthy and neglecting towards you. They call your therapist seeking information not only asking if your going to your appointments but asking the therapist what we are suffering from to see what we are talking about with our therapist. Or asking to get social workers names or numbers to seek what Was said about us to make us have a social worker it's just scary to know people who "suppose to help" make things worse by invading in personal issues and making them worse whereas your escaping drama, trauma, and homelessness or depression issues and they bring them back to you by causing you problems. These people have a problem picking at people and I personally am a victim of these particular situations and I want to speak for other women who are afraid or who don't know how to take the initiative to bring these problems to someone attentions these women need to be notified and we need better care not control and pain that's cause not only by our past situations but these women who work here as "case managers".

The Salvation Army Representative for Beckham County, Oklahoma has created conflict among the community partners. Cindy Abney has refused to cooperate with other nonprofit organizations such as the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center, churches and the local homeless nonprofit. Prior to Cindy's employment with Salvation Army, she was employed by another agency to represent Salvation Army for utility assistance. The past couple of months she has refused to go to her office and see clients, she has been "working" out of her home, she has not been available to clients to provide assistance, she does not answer her phone or return calls to clients requesting assistance, and advises other organizations providing assistance that Salvation Army is "out of funds" a week at a time.

As the director of a nonprofit that works closely with Salvation Army to provide assistance to our community members in need, I have concerns with Cindy's ability to effectively coordinate with other agencies and provide needed assistance to the community. Cindy has created a hostile environment around her. I feel that Cindy is unable to appropriately represent Salvation Army and their standards.

I just moved out of emergency shelter at Randolph court through horizon house. I'm going through the DHS reunification process with the goal of getting my kids out of placement into my custody. I am in need of furniture and have a referral to the salvation Army furniture bank from the rapid housing program. I am in transitional housing in an apartment that I moved in a one bedroom on October 5th with nothing and still have nothing. I have called a few times with one initial call that was answered and since then I have left voicemails with no response. I am low income currently recieving social security disability $851 monthly. I have the opportunity for permanent housing but I have to show I can fill a household with furniture food and clothing for myself and kids. It is also been the same situation to obtain clothing and food from the salvation army. I want an investigation opened into the difficulties I described in my complaint including phone calls. If this is found in my favor, please assist with access obtaining furniture, food, and clothing with contact information please. Any help will be appreciated.

I am a African American and It is unlawful to harass a person because of that person's race or color.

Harassment can include, racial slurs, offensive or derogatory remarks about my race or color, or the display of racially-offensive symbols. Or because he or she is darker, lighter, white or black.Although the law doesn't prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive living environment or when it results in an adverse housing decision (such as the victim being judge or misunderstood).

The harasser can be the victim's community where he reside, a worker in another area, a client, or someone who is working for the company. STOP The Harassment.

I occasionally shop at the Salvation Army store #27 on Devon Avenue in Chicago. During my past three visits, I have requested to use a fitting room, for which you need an employee to retrieve a key from the manager and unlock. All three times the employees and manager have stated that both of their fitting rooms were not available (without explanation). I was simply told they were "out of order." Today, I again requested to use a fitting room, to which I was given a reply by a helpful employee named Josh, "Let me get the key." I was excited, since it seemed they had "fixed" the fitting rooms. Josh unlocked the door and I was about to enter - when the manager - Laura - intercepted my entry and said, "the rooms are out of order." I replied, why?" To which she said they needed to be repaired. I asked, "Why? what is wrong with them?" She did not answer me and rudely turned and walked away.

I continued shopping. When I came across another helpful employee, I asked, "What is wrong with the fitting rooms? They have been unavailable for over a month now." The employee responded, "we lost the key" to which I replied, "That is not what I was told." She then said I should speak to the manager - Laura. I did not feel comfortable asking Laura, since she was already rude to me once.

I have no problem being told a reason as to why I cannot use fitting rooms, but when I am lied to without reason and treated rudely, then something is wrong with the customer service! I will not go back to this store. With management like that - I am happy to spend my money elsewhere.

While shopping the "Bins" at the Clinton Township store in Michigan. I was looking and shopping with a family member at some items in large cardboard boxes. First of all there isn't any "real" organization in the bins with the exception of some books in one corner and shoes against the back wall and half baked attempt at putting the linens in one section.
Anyway, there are red bins with clothing and large oversized cardboard boxes right next to the bins. So, I thought if it's on the floor it was for sale. Not only was I told not to shop in the large cardboard boxes .But I was singled out twice while I saw other shoppers doing the same. I was told the merchandise was put on the sales floor because there wasn't room in the back, I said to the employee if it's on the floor wouldn't you want to make the sale . Yet she insisted that I not shop out of the large cardboard boxes.
I saw a few minutes later that two large cardboard on the floor by the shoes and it was a real frenzy going on . Yet the [censored] employee said I couldn't shop out of the large cardboard boxes. Strange.
Here's the thing I worked at large retail chains and if it's on the sales floor and even the mannequins IT'S FOR SALE. So, I figured it this way. By the time I finished shopping in the large cardboard boxes and bins I spent about $4.00 overall, this was money the Salvation Army would not have had . Not a lot overall, but put this way, take the number of transactions ring in on a day and multiply by a minimum $1 on up . Then add all those transactions for a week, month and year. IT ALL ADDS UP. Your employees are RUDE and need customer training skills quickly. There are so much competition in the area with better pricing .Get with the program.

I had scheduled pick up today for some living room furniture that is is good condition as I told them when I called for the donation.
I have cats and there was some cat hair on one of the chairs... my vacuum hose had broken, so I could not get all the hair off of it.
When this guy came in he insulted me by say this furniture was in bad shape. I am appalled and insulted. I told him not to take it. Rude!
I got a hair roller and go all the cat hair off. The young guy with the old one said cat hair never comes out. That is BS!
This is free and you will sell it.
I live in a million dollar home, I am not some low class street person.
This is totally unacceptable.
And now he said he cant take the sofa sleeper couch because it h as a tiny rip on the bottom that cant be seen. And the china hutch he wont take because there is a little chip in one of the shelves. OH MY GOD. WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU ARE? I AM SURE THERE IS SOME VERY VERY POOR PERSON OUT THERE THAT WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HAVE IT. THIS IS MESSED UP.

I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO LET THE WORLD KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY SELFISH THAT THE SALVATION ARMY IS. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR SELVES.

Debbie Junot
[protected]

I watched them pull out audio gear for a customer giving him dibs and leaving that store useless for anyone else looking for a deal. The guy flips the stuff on Facebook and it's endless! It's unfair to the other people the drive to the store looking for value, but it's all being held back for people.

I used to go in every other day but I don't see the point.

Please have them just put the stuff out on the floor and not hold records and audio gear for one guy to decide what he wants and what the rest of us get to look at. it's lame.

Becky Stuart at the Loveland Colorado facility said I could not pass out scripture at her facility. I told her that she does not do anything about people smoking in front of the store. City ordinance.
I told her she sells Halloween merchandise and that does not bother her. She enforces what she wants. Always against god. For Halloween; pagan.

I sent a letter to Karen Headquarters Denver.

Supreme Court ruled that passing out scripture is not soliciting. No! Giving away free Gospel tracts and talking to people about salvation are not the same thing as soliciting.
http://www.biblestudycourses.net/Christian%20constitutional%20rights.pdf

9/30/2019

I'm putting in this complaint but do not want to get into trouble for doing it. I was at work today and the fire marshals showed up to check out the back room, I communicated to my boss via text message to let him know that they were there and i get back for an answer k via text message back from my boss. We are overlaoded with donations and we have absolutely no room for any more, we have a sign on the door only taking clothes and shoes. We have only two paid workers in the st. Johnsbury store and we never get supplies, we have to buy trash bags so we can do our job. We send supply list every week or we text our boss what we need. I like my job and the customers so i would like to do what i can to make sure customers are happy when they shop. I just dont know what we are going to do about the back room because we were told the truck is broke down. We really can not put anymore donations outback but our boss also wants the store clean, we can not do everything just the two of us and no help or hardly any help.

I appreciate all you do, and donate often. I also frequent my local store to buy merchandise to donate. I do also buy merchandise for myself occasionally. I did, today, purchase a couch. It was a great bargain and I am very thankful. It will go to a very good needing family. I am however very upset with my local stores staff and feel my issue needs to be addressed! I will write this letter, call the number and file a complaint with the BBB if it is not resolved in a timely manner.
Now to my point...
Like I said I purchased a couch today from the Taylor location, and the staff was NOT helpful at all and even rude. I do not understand why they can not help move furniture to the buyers vehicle...or at least help to get it out of the store. I am a capable person, but can not carry a couch out to the truck. NO HELP WAS OFFERED, they said it was prohibited...WHY? Damage to the item? Injured workers? Liability? PLEASE EXPLAIN!
OK...so I moved past that because I really needed this couch...THEN they wouldn't even let me take it through the back wide door! They MADE ME CARRY THIS BIG SECTIONAL COUCH THROUGH THE FRONT NARROW DOORS! RIDICULOUS! If they are not going to help...they should AT LEAST let you take it out better accessible doors! I am very frustrated about this and like I said I will be following up. This should be addressed!

I have traveled all over the country for the past 4ys staying at the "Salvation Army" in whatever state I visited ( A nomad for a min). By FAR! LAS VEGAS SALVATION ARMY IS THE WORST I EVER SEEN...(Recap) Manger (Rumored...might be true) got a Volunteer PREGNANT. And Brittany is HIGHLY HORMONAL BEING 7 1/2 months(not suppose tobe working or doing volunteer work under her medical conditions including mental. She has MACE PEOPLE KICK OLD PEOPLE OFF PROPERTY! OFF LINE FOR SITTING DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES...HAS ALMOST TATALLY CONTROL OF THE SHELTER! MR. JOWAN SAYS NOTHING BUT BACK HER UP! EVEN WHEN SHE'S OUT OF CONTROL! SHE MACED A MAN FOR JUST STANDING UO FOR HIS RIGHTS! THEN SHE GOT 86 OFF PROPERTY THEN RETURNED 3DAYS LATER LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. WHEN I COMPLAIN TO MR. JOWAN ABOUT HER BEHAVIOR...I GET NO BED FOR THAT EVENING...THEY WILL HAVE TONS OF BEDS AVAILABLE, but play cruel games when you start closing in on hidden non sense going on there! Women having sex in the bathrooms, worker are watching porn on the computer. Men walks into the WOMEN'S DORM WITHOUT ANNOUNCEMENT ALL THE TIME...LIKE PEEPING TOMS! Has a sexual relationship with Ryan the Director. Supplies are staggering. No tissue, no towels, no water in weeks. ( DUE TO SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES, AND DONATIONS IT WAS ALSO RUMORED THEY ARE BEING LOOKED INTO FOR "EMBEZZLEMENT"! Disabled PEOPLE stand on the line in Sun (98-115 DEGREES EVERYDAY) for over 3 hours STRAIGHT! ...and if you move for water or a cig break or bathroom break you will lose your spot, AND HAVE TO GO TO THE BACK OF THE LINE! I have a back injury due from work as a Nurse for over 25yrs. That's how come I know that crazy pregnant lady should not be working in her mental state and no higher ups says NOTHING! All CLIENTS miss 4pm Dinner because we are STILL standing there INLINE from 2pm to 4:30pm. BLANKETS, TOWELS, SHEETS, AND OTHER SUPPLIES ARE ALWAYS BEING STOLEN. ...Too much favoritism, and childish control here! No REAL AUTHORITY! ...and will let people sleep out in the street when they always have bed open!...THE RUDEST, CHILD LIKE MINDED PEOPLE i HAVE EVER MET IN MY LIFE! THEY ARE REMEDIAL...AND FOOL NO ONE FROM EASTCOAST! (from NYC) they don't like smart people over here either! Sex in the showers drugs everywhere! It would be best to send people from out of state to REAL RUN THIS ORGANIZATION BETTER! THESE PEOPLE HERE ARE CHILDISH DEMONS..ATHEIST! WHY ARE THEY WORKING FOR A CHURCH BASE ORG!?...SEND SECRET SHOPPERS HERE! CLEAN HOUSE THEY ALL IN ON IT!...Y'ALL BETTER COME CHECK THESE PEOPLE OUT! THEY KIND OF CRAZY AND OUT OF ORDER OVER HERE...(an "Eastern Star" from Penn.)

I was helping a customer carry a ac to get it to a cart, and this rude lady wearing a white shirt, comes hollering to only bring that to the front if I'm going to check out which if I was taking to the front of understand but I was just helping another customer out. Then I come back and was going to explain to her that I was just helping the lady and she starts talking about he has to leave this and that. Someone needs to talk to her about how to speak to customers or to rethink her carrier it's not you my fault she hates her job and she isn't going to take it out on the customers.

I have been attending the salvation army church for 5 years and became member for 2 1/2 years and was also employed at the thrift store in 2014. This is the most non-christian organization I have ever experienced. I was fired from the thrift store under false allegations but attended the church because I thought they were 2 separate entities (as they made it sounded). I attended the church and at the time, there were 2 officers who truly cared and helped me to understand being a christian and help others. They left and 2 other officers who one was a rookie and the other almost in retirement, took a lot of programs away and a lot of members left. Became homeless in the transition of officers and they never once offer to help me (just pray). They have a lot of money for that corp and did not even offer something to help me and my child. I never asked them for nothing except once toiletries and that was like pulling teeth when asked and a ride to church. I have been denied the right to go to church because one officer never reached out at all and the officer said he had to take his kids to another church so he can't pick me up. I understand I don't live close but that's the closest corps to me.

I am angry because i've been an active member and have participated in most of their programs, rallies, marches, fundraisers, etc. For the poor people and disenfranchised but I am poor and disenfranchised and they refuse to acknowledge my existence. I asked the old major for a job reference but she won't reply, I called the the corp several times this summer and no reply until I called a wonder lieutenant at the arc who gave them the message and that's when I found out that I won't be picked up for church because he has to take his kids to another church. They will not call me back nor talk to me so I guess being poor I am no use for them. I am being denied to go to church and I am homeless and not one official knowing my situation would not offer or even tried to help with the exception of receiving a voucher for glasses. I will keep complaining to anyone and everyone who will hear me until I get a satisfactory response and in hopes no ine else would ever be treated like this again.

Manager at mentor. Store would not give me her name cause I wanted to report how nasty she was. She told her cashire to not give me her name. She is about 54 years old sge wearz alot of jewrly and has dark tan. She was horrible. So so rude and nasty to me and deserves to be fired as far as I am concerned I told all of my driends not to shop there I got atleast 30 girls I know to stop going in the mentor store by walmart all together. You should not have someone so nasty running your store!

A handful of Salvation Army employees are destroying Christian charities. The group that they're with has publicly proclaimed that that this is what they do. It is policy. We have seen them destroy 6. When they do this it leaves the target group unhelped leaving them in their psychological pain. Jesus says if somebody has a problem with you go to them and talk it out. They have refused to talk about this and we have been waiting to talk for five years. Their supervisors have refused to talk about this. Their supervisors supervisors in charge of all S. A. Operations in the Chicago area have refused to talk about this. That would be the Metropolitan Division in Chicago. We then went to the Central Command in Hoffman Estates and they refused to talk about this- only giving us fake emails. Can you please notify a high official to contact us to begin the process of talking this out the way Jesus has commanded us to do? It would be terrible if the national press started running stories about how the Salvation Army prevents the poor from being helped by destroying other charitable entities.
Thank you and God bless!
Andy Sturges
[protected]
[protected]@gmail.com

I patroam a frequent visitor of this store and each time they have allowed this n by the name of Michael Carl to intimidate, use profanity and talk loud and be disrespectful to other patrons. I have experience this as well on four different occasions. I had asked to speak with the manager on 9/18/2019 and was informed that she was not at work. I was only informed that her first name was Elizabeth. I talked to the assistant manager, Mary(do not know her last name), and she stated to me that "she could not hold his hand." I informed her that I wanted to have a pleasant shopping experience and this type of behavior causes a frown on the organization. My hopes is that something can be done about this patrons behavior.

Staff that work at the salvation army lisa stark is sleeping with Poeple there. Makeing nasty comments and flirting with my husband and the director and she acts like she is on drugs.. And threathing me and other familys if we are to stay there. That we better not say anything. Im scared to even be around her. Then she wants. Talk about my personal bussiess withother poeple unprofessional someone needs to correct the problem be fore it gets worse she dont even do her job