Local Salvation Army pays thousands to haul away donated debris, broken items

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charities across the Charlotte area are getting slammed with the end of the year fast approaching, people stepping up their donations for the tax breaks.

But, Channel 9 discovered some people are using charities as a dumping ground and this is creating a financial problem for these organizations.

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"We get junk all year long. And that's one of the problems we face financially. Just dealing with all the stuff we have to throw away," Captain Brett Cundiff said.

Cundiff showed Eyewitness News Anchor John Paul around the Salvation Army Warehouse in Plaza Midwood, where he saw donations ranging from broken vases to a bag of yard debris.

Workers said they sort through all the donations they receive, keeping an eye out for junk. They said all the debris and broken donations end up in a giant dumpster.

The Salvation Army said they pay thousands of dollars every month to have it hauled away.

"We're talking if we didn't have that much to throw away, our garbage bill would be three or four thousand a month. But, with all this stuff we do have to throw away, it's been as high as 12,000 in one month," Cundiff said.

The Salvation Army helps the homeless and people struggling with addiction to get back on their feet.

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They said they are asking everyone to think about what they are donating because to do the most good, they need a little less of the not so good.

Another issue the Salvation Army is dealing with is theft.

They sent Channel 9 a video of people rummaging through and stealing donations in Matthews, but there is no word on how much was stolen.

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