Jenna Pope: Breezy Point in ruins (Sandy)

[sabrina 1]

6. This is why I do not donate to the Red Cross anymore:

The American Red Cross has come under fire for its slow response to certain areas hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, and now critics have a new complaint against the relief organization: It’s paying $181,000 for volunteers to stay at a swanky downtown Manhattan hotel.

The Red Cross, which has raised $131 million in Sandy relief as of Tuesday, recently fired back at critics, calling its disaster response effort “near flawless.” But struggling Sandy survivors allege Red Cross volunteers aren’t visible in their towns, and many have said they don’t understand where the organization's dollars could be going.

The nonprofit revealed to the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that one big-ticket Sandy relief item is hotel stays for volunteers. Since New York City is packed with tourists and facing a housing crisis, the Red Cross has taken 45 rooms at the upscale Soho Grand Hotel –- at a discounted rate -- which will end up costing $181,000, spokeswoman Laura Howe told the Journal.

As if they could not find cheaper places to house volunteers. I wonder who owns that Hotel?

There were many complaints about what the Red Cross was spending money on after Haiti and Katrina also. To think what that money could have done for some of the victims of the storm.

And that is why I prefer to donate to OccupySandy as the money is being used to directly help those it is intended for.