Let's talk donations. As a Non-Profit company, I expect, in fact I know, that Crossway receives many donations in various forms for the residents of Crossway Community. During my residency at Crossway, I was a bit surprised at the lack of outside support this program seemed to have. At least on the surface it appeared that way. I am not saying my family has never received gifts from donors, but it was very few and far between for what is supposed to be a well established company run by such a well known CEO. Deep roots in the Metropolitan area should be an asset for the company, shouldn't it? It seems odd to me then the lack of donations I have seen come our way. When we did receive donations, our family was asked to either sign a group Thank-You card or write an individual one to the donor. Crossway would always say that they would cover postage and mail the Thank-You card(s) out for the residents. I have always found that to be a nice practice. So, that being said, I wonder what many of the donors that donated stuff/money to the residents and never got a personalized Thank-You card for the gifts received? Maybe we are rude. Maybe we don't know any better. Or maybe, we didn't receive the gifts! There is some backlash from some old residents of Crossway that are upset at the current uproar of residents now speaking out against the ill practices of Crossway Community. Forever grateful for their positive experience, they claim that the residents speaking out should be quiet and be grateful for the opportunity that they have/had. However, what was then does not seem to be what is now. As wonderful of an experience that some past residents claim to have had should be offered to all residents. The problem is that many residents did not receive the picturesque Crossway Community resident services that some are saying they have had. The problem is not the residents speaking out, the problem is the advantage that the administration had over them and it finally got to the point that enough residents simply had enough. Focusing on the donations received, or not received, is such a big and small part of the picture. The incredible lack of respect that the staff had/has for the donors and the residents when they decide to play Santa Claus. Deciding how has been naughty or nice and who will receive what, if anything in the form of a generous gift that was offered by donors. If my family needed clothing we were given a list of places where we could buy clothes that were inexpensive. We could get free clothing through Interfaith as well as some furniture and work clothes. Interfaith serves the public; this is not just a service offered for Crossway residents. If we needed food we could go to MUM's or sign up with a local food bank; also public. For a program that boast about being around for more than 20 years as well as advertising their fine program and asking, (and receiving), donations, than why are so many of the residents sent out into the public begging for services that Crossway promises to offer and has in fact received donations for things such as food, clothing, and furniture? It has come into recent light that Redskins tickets, iPads, and work clothes were also donated. No residents received these items. Donors, if you are reading this, on behalf of all Crossway residents, old and new, thank you very much for your generous donations. We did not over look the small detail of sending you a Thank-You card, Crossway overlooked the small detail of passing the donations onto us.
|