Reality check for everyone....

[TrueTiger]

As most on here know Im a guy who calls a spade a spade,I love posting and reading on here and if anyone has dramas with anything I will be the first to try and help...having said that,recently I fell on a misfortune caused by the bushfires we have had,I had a small bar and grill called Ziggys at Penrose,a small community in the Southern Highlands of NSW...We have been told that the Red Cross was given over 60 million dollars in donations to go to people affected by the fires..
I had lost between 600/700 dollars worth of stock due to the blackouts caused by the fires..In an attempt to prolong the business I asked them for assistance...

The answer was ...because your business wasn't burnt and is still standing you cannot claim anything from us 'we are keeping the money for future disasters'...

I therefore will never donate to the Red Cross again as the moneys donated was for people directly affected by the fires and loss of business..My stock was worth 600/700 dollars,but we lost trade due to roads being closed and other people lost property etc..
this is why I don't trust go fund me and charities as such because the money doesn't go to those who need it now.Im bitter because maybe 5000/6000 dollars would of kept me going through this tough time...as WOODS once said it is what it is..the amount Im asking could have kept me going for at least 4 months,now Im working in a bootle shop to make ends meet while my partner finishes he chemo for breast cancer...I will battle on because there are people in worst situations than me,having lost everything as well as loved ones...I cant help but say these charities should not be able to hold people to ransom without knowing and moreso seeing what I have been through...very disappointing...

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I'm sorry to learn of your situation. Have you considered approaching your local State member with a view to making representations on your behalf? I would also believe this is a case that should be raised in Parliament about how charities utilise funding donated by members of the public.

 

[tiger_one]

Contact Alan Jones at Sydney radio 2GB.

 

[Tiger_Steve]

That’s terrible mate and I’m truly sorry to hear your continued struggles. You’ve been through a lot. And continue to.
I was listening to radio and the same thing was being said about the Red Cross. It’s wrong mate. Money raised is for bush fire relief NOW. You should contact your state MP.
Also, things will get better mate. I had a terrible 4 years - lost a fortune, marriage break up, leading to very poor mental health. But I came out the other side and life is good again. You guys will get there. Best wishes!

 

[TrueTiger]

That’s terrible mate and I’m truly sorry to hear your continued struggles. You’ve been through a lot. And continue to.
I was listening to radio and the same thing was being said about the Red Cross. It’s wrong mate. Money raised is for bush fire relief NOW. You should contact your state MP.
Also, things will get better mate. I had a terrible 4 years - lost a fortune, marriage break up, leading to very poor mental health. But I came out the other side and life is good again. You guys will get there. Best wishes!

Thanks Steve,I wasn't looking for sympathy,I have a tough internal fortitude,however Im very disappointed that the wonderful communities and general public that donated to help us has been ambushed by the very people that were given the money to help us...it fathoms disbelief that this should be the outcome especially that good people handed over money to be distributed to us...

 

[gallagher]

Good luck TT, I hope things turn around for you.

 

[Russell]

Hi TT - was watching the news the other night and they were saying not all funds were being distributed for this current disaster but some donations were being held for future use (i.e forthcoming disasters). It was also said how slow the Red Cross were in getting relief to victims.

THE MONEY WAS DONATED FOR THIS DISASTER YOU BUNCH OF MORONS!

This is the trouble with these charities - peoples donations never go where it is intended to go. They wonder why people don't want to donate or help.

It is also worth mentioning that charities like the Red Cross and Oxfam keep 10% of donations for administrative costs

Just a bunch of crooks.

 

[Ponyo]

Ziggy's Bar & Grill will soon rise like a phoenix out of the ashes. Chin up & take care TT

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

as per what was previously said ring alan jones 2gb 873
He needs to make this known as lots of people are angry at what red cross is doing by holding on to the money for future disasters people donated for the now
Also perhaps worth contacting Paul Murray at Paul Murray live on skynews australia

 

[TrueTiger]

Ziggy's Bar & Grill will soon rise like a phoenix out of the ashes. Chin up & take care TT

Don't get me wrong,I appreciate your input Ponyo,but I cant help but think why does Red Cross and co get to tell us that money donated to help people who have suffered terribly during these fires,when and if we can have this money to keep our business and lives going..prior to me being affected,a family lost everything at Balmoral,we jumped in and gave them clothes,food and cash to keep them going,no questions asked...Red Cross appears to be a rort for the people who work for them by getting a huge commission to distribute what was given to them for nothing, all they have to do is distribute it...they get plenty of donations during the year from taxpayers to help the community during hard times such as this...they also do plenty of fund raisers through the year that gets them heaps of financial gain,yet make excuses to people who are genuinely suffering.

Have lost all faith in Red Cross who I supported for many years....its all over for them from me ….

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

It looks like, at least, some charities have very flexible rules, and may redistribute money given for a specific purpose to some other causes, as they see fit! The surprise is that St Vincent, and Red Cross are caught 'in flagrante'!

 

[cochise]

Have lost all faith in Red Cross who I supported for many years…its all over for them from me ….

This is straight from the Red Cross playbook I am afraid to say, similar allegations were made about the Red Cross in America after 9/11 and some of the Hurricanes. People donate money to help specific disasters and later find out that that money has been held back for future use.

I am very sorry to hear about the issues you are having @TrueTiger

 

[Papacito]

As most on here know Im a guy who calls a spade a spade,I love posting and reading on here and if anyone has dramas with anything I will be the first to try and help...having said that,recently I fell on a misfortune caused by the bushfires we have had,I had a small bar and grill called Ziggys at Penrose,a small community in the Southern Highlands of NSW...We have been told that the Red Cross was given over 60 million dollars in donations to go to people affected by the fires..
I had lost between 600/700 dollars worth of stock due to the blackouts caused by the fires..In an attempt to prolong the business I asked them for assistance...

The answer was ...because your business wasn't burnt and is still standing you cannot claim anything from us 'we are keeping the money for future disasters'...

I therefore will never donate to the Red Cross again as the moneys donated was for people directly affected by the fires and loss of business..My stock was worth 600/700 dollars,but we lost trade due to roads being closed and other people lost property etc..
this is why I don't trust go fund me and charities as such because the money doesn't go to those who need it now.Im bitter because maybe 5000/6000 dollars would of kept me going through this tough time...as WOODS once said it is what it is..the amount Im asking could have kept me going for at least 4 months,now Im working in a bootle shop to make ends meet while my partner finishes he chemo for breast cancer...I will battle on because there are people in worst situations than me,having lost everything as well as loved ones...I cant help but say these charities should not be able to hold people to ransom without knowing and moreso seeing what I have been through...very disappointing...

You probably qualify for some assistance from the federal government. Check out: https://www.business.gov.au/news/bushfire-support

 

[Harvey]

Forget other disasters, how much is held back to pay directors fees

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

That's a poor outcome Zig. I've only donated to the RFS this year so they are better equipped for the next round when it inevitably happens. They would have made a killing at the Elton John concert I went to at Hope Estate, everyone was throwing notes at them.

 

[Tiger5150]

Im really sorry for what has happened to you Ziggy, and this will sound pretty cold, but if this is your business, didnt you have insurance for loss of stock etc?

 

[OzLuke]

It's a sad state of affairs.....think of all the interest they'll be making on that money as well!!!!

Just goes to show that not all charities have the people who needs it best interests at heart.....

Sorry to hear about this.....gets you thinking about who you donate to.....

I'll never donate to the Salvos because they deliver christmas packs to every single inmate at christmas time....some of you might go what's the big deal, but people donate to the Salvos to help those in need, not those locked up.....

I'm prepared to get flamed for my opinion......

 

[TrueTiger]

Im really sorry for what has happened to you Ziggy, and this will sound pretty cold, but if this is your business, didnt you have insurance for loss of stock etc?

Your right 5150,we have applied to our insuance co for loss of stock,which really in the scheme of things isn't much 6/7 hundred dollars...what we are filthy at is people donated to help us out..for example,we have lost trade due to road closures and fire danger zones for at least 6/7 weeks and yet the landlord is sending us texts demanding the weekly rent,we could barely have enough trade to pay 1/4 of the rent per week and they don't care,yet nobody can help us because our building didn't burn...
Im completely over the insensitive d,,,kheads in this world who really enjoy kicking people when they are down...answer me this...for a lousy 5/6 grand we can keep ourselves afloat for the next couple of months,out of 60/70 million donated we cant even be given that....beggars belief.;;

 

[Tiger5150]

Im really sorry for what has happened to you Ziggy, and this will sound pretty cold, but if this is your business, didnt you have insurance for loss of stock etc?

Your right 5150,we have applied to our insuance co for loss of stock,which really in the scheme of things isn't much 6/7 hundred dollars...what we are filthy at is people donated to help us out..for example,we have lost trade due to road closures and fire danger zones for at least 6/7 weeks and yet the landlord is sending us texts demanding the weekly rent,we could barely have enough trade to pay 1/4 of the rent per week and they don't care,yet nobody can help us because our building didn't burn...
Im completely over the insensitive d,,,kheads in this world who really enjoy kicking people when they are down...answer me this...for a lousy 5/6 grand we can keep ourselves afloat for the next couple of months,out of 60/70 million donated we cant even be given that....beggars belief.;;

Understood mate. Sorry if my post seemed cold. No doubt your points re the charities are spot on. I actually cringed when I kept reading about international celecbrities one upping each other with donations. To who? For what? Lots of the wrong people will benefit out of this.

It even extends outside of the direct people impacted. You wouldhope for arguments sake that out of the millions set aside to rebuild infrastructure, it should be preferred local contractors get the work to help the community as a whole. I have a mate who lost a contract in the fire effected area because the work was given to the army.

 

[OzLuke]

Im really sorry for what has happened to you Ziggy, and this will sound pretty cold, but if this is your business, didnt you have insurance for loss of stock etc?

Your right 5150,we have applied to our insuance co for loss of stock,which really in the scheme of things isn't much 6/7 hundred dollars...what we are filthy at is people donated to help us out..for example,we have lost trade due to road closures and fire danger zones for at least 6/7 weeks and yet the landlord is sending us texts demanding the weekly rent,we could barely have enough trade to pay 1/4 of the rent per week and they don't care,yet nobody can help us because our building didn't burn...
Im completely over the insensitive d,,,kheads in this world who really enjoy kicking people when they are down...answer me this...for a lousy 5/6 grand we can keep ourselves afloat for the next couple of months,out of 60/70 million donated we cant even be given that....beggars belief.;;

So a question TrueTiger....what would it take for your business to get through this?? To get the kick along for you and your family what would you need?