Cornelius police warn of shady charity

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Channel 9 tracked down a group soliciting donations for a charity that Cornelius police have been warning people about.

Police said Hope for Domestic Violence is a bit shady and reporter Ken Lemon tracked down someone with the group and questioned her about the group’s legitimacy.

Lemon saw the van with decals for Hope for DV near the front entrance of a neighborhood. Someone inside was placing these bags on mailboxes throughout the community.

By the time Lemon turned around in a Channel 9 vehicle, it was gone.

He eventually found the van and waved for the driver to stop.

The driver kept going until she had to stop in a construction zone.

"Ken Lemon, Channel 9 Eyewitness News," Lemon told the driver.

Lemon asked if they were the ones putting bags in mailboxes all over the community, and the driver answered, “Yes.”

"Are you aware that the police department said that is a scam?" Lemon said.

Cornelius police released a warning Wednesday about the group who placed bags on mailboxes asking for clothing and household items for victims of domestic violence.

Police said those items are sold, and the money goes back to the group.

"This is our patent to show that we are legit," the group member said.

She showed Lemon several documents saying they are a recognized nonprofit group and said the clothes go to victims of domestic violence.

"Some of the stuff is liquidated cause it pays for the rent, the utilities, the daycare school,” she said. “Everything outside of what they cannot wear."

She said she spoke to the Cornelius police chief who said it's OK for them to continue their operation.

Lemon spoke with an executive of the group by phone from Georgia where he is also a state representative.

Lemon asked about the thrift shop they use to make money for the victims.

The executive told Lemon that they work with a clothing campaign company.

Lemon told him that groups, such as the Better Business Bureau have said charities that ask for donations like Hope for Domestic Violence are often turning donated items into cash for themselves.

The executive said they don't have someone who can only file reports with groups, such as the BBB

Channel 9 reached out to the Cornelius Police Department to ask if it has talked to people from the group but have had no reply.

Cox Media Group