Here is the list of Sacramento restaurants participating in today’s Dine for America Day. 50% of sales at Blue Cue and K-Bar seems pretty generous. Paragary’s Group is obviously feeling the need to boost its public image. Today would be a good day to eat an all-appetizers dinner at Biba. Dress appropriately.
The Sac Rag 
Not to get all political here, but since all proceeds from this go to the Red Cross/Crescent, I’ve gonna put in my $.02:
Red Cross/Crescent’s CEO makes almost $700,000 a year. Sorry, but I think that’s WAY too much for anyone to make, much less head of a “non-profit.”
Salvation Army’s CEO: about $20,000 (plus housing)
The Red Cross has a history of botching the use of donations, and, IMO, a bad history of disbursing donations to help with events people THINK they are donating to. (Did your 9/11 donation go to 9/11 victims, or the new Red Cross/Crescent researve fund? You don’t know, do you?!)
Salvation Army: proportionatly more of the donations go to those in need (vs. admin costs, reserves, etc.).
If you REALLY want to help event victims, make a sandwich at home, and send the $10 or $20 you were going to spend at lunch to the Salvation Army.
If you REALLY want a good lunch, go to lunch at any of the above places, or ask sac-eats.
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Is it just me or is anyone else disgusted by the number of KFC franchises we have here?
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$700,000 is a large salary. I don’t know much about the operations of the Red Cross/Crescent, but, I wouldn’t be so quick to condemn the organization for paying that much out – could it be what the market demands? RC/C is a huge organization that spans the globe. Its mandate is global and immense, and, maybe that plays into why the annual salary is so high.
You can’t blame the organization for wanting to keep a high reserve. Once a disaster happens, it’s already too late to wait for donations to come in. Everyone looks to the RC/C first – and it wouldn’t surprise me if the RC/C was one of the largest facilitators of aid to victims of any given disaster.
A person can criticize any organization all they like. Despite the good the Salvation Army does, some people may find that this organization’s mission somewhat questionable.
So, if you’re going to eat out anyway, I don’t think that eating at one of the places participating in Dine for America is a bad idea.
On the other hand, whether or not eating at KFC is a good thing, is an entirely debatable issue.
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I must respectfully ask who actually finds the mission of the Salvation Army, that is, “doing the most good” to be “questionable?” Whatever your views on salaries of charity leaders may be, it’s a little extreme to suggest that there is some sort of sinister motive to either of these reputable groups. Of course, some of the methods, (eh-hem – constant bell ringing at Christmas time and the wearing of over-sized red vests) could be cause for concern…
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You all seem to miss what’s really being said here…buy our shirts! Wear them, dammit!
And give to your local charities, of course, in any way you see fit.
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Megan, because you respectfully asked:
“The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. ”
–Salvation Army mission statement
The Salvation Army then goes further to say:
“The Salvation Army is a Christian organisation and part of the universal Christian Church.
Its message and the lifestyle it advocates are based on the Bible’s teaching. Its work is to make known the good news about Jesus Christ and to persuade people to become his followers. ”
Yes, this could rub some people the wrong way.
But in the end, I agree with you, Megan. Regardless of what’s been said, both these groups are doing good work, and we shouldn’t be so quick to throw the baby out with the bath water.
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