Christian Charity:Donors boycott kitchen where Ryan faked it

[Alecto]

This is such a fine example of Christian charity right here...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/1 ... 80541.html

WASHINGTON -- In the wake of Rep. Paul Ryan's embarrassing soup kitchen photo-op last week, the organization that runs the facility tells The Huffington Post that donors have begun pulling their money out of the Youngstown, Ohio charity.

Ryan may have suffered a few late-night jokes, but the fallout for the soup kitchen appears to be far more bruising. Brian J. Antal, president of the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society, confirmed that donors have begun an exodus in protest over Ryan's embarrassment. The monetary losses have been big. "It appears to be a substantial amount," Antal said. "You can rest assured there has been a substantial backlash."

Antal says he can't give an actual dollar amount. "I can't say how much [in] donations we lost," he said. "Donations are a private matter with our organization."

Antal's charity represents the kind of organization that conservative Republicans might champion. But that was before the Ryan incident went viral a few days ago. According to The Washington Post, Antal said that the moment should never have happened. He told the newspaper that the photo-op was not authorized and that the campaign had “ramrodded their way†inside.

Ryan supporters have now targeted Antal and his soup kitchen, Antal said, including making hundreds of angry phone calls. Some members of Antal's volunteer staff have had to endure the barrage as well, he said. "The sad part is a lot of [the callers] want to hide behind anonymity," he said, adding that if someone leaves their name and number he has tried to return their call. In addition to phone calls, people have posted a few choice words on the charity's Facebook wall, including statements like "I hope you lose your tax [sic] emempt status," Anyone who is thinking about donations to you should think twice" and "Shame on you Brian Antal!"

On the phone with HuffPost, Antal seemed worn out by all the vitriol. "Honesty, I really don't need any more attention," he said. "I really just want this to go away."

Antal said doesn't understand why donors would take out their frustration over the incident on those who can't afford to pay for their own meals. "I'm a volunteer,' he said. "I receive zero compensation. Withholding donations is only going to hurt the over 100,000 we serve annually."

To make a donation to the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society, money can be sent to P.O. Box 224, Youngstown, Ohio 44501.

[Rowan]

I grew up in a suburb of Y-town and still very strongly identify with that area. Youngstown is struggling, has struggled for a long time, and will probably struggle for a long time in the future.

So many people depend on that soup kitchen - it was a popular volunteer place in high school because they always needed help. That this @sshole could cause them to not be able to do what they have been doing for so many pisses me off. Isn't it enough that Romney and Ryan are literally and figuratively killing our lower and middle class? But for this to happen in one of the hardest-hit cities.....there are no words.

I only hope it spurs other people to contribute now who had certainly never heard of StVdP.

[Arete]

I'm kind of not buying that the Ryan machine "rammed" their way into the soup kitchen. It's a Catholic charity, he is a Catholic politician, and I think the charity thought it would be no big deal at the most, and possibly open the purse strings of some of the more conservative Catholic donors. A gross miscalculation, and as always with these things, those in the most need are the first to suffer.

[Witsec7]

If St. Vinnies offers BC under their employees ins. I'll be happy to donate to them. But I'd like to see the proof first.

[rock_girl]

A pollie stuffed up so poor people should go hungry?

I'm pretty sure Jesus is not ok with that sort of thinking.

[shesinsane]

The irony is, Antal previously

He noted that the soup kitchen relies on funding from private individuals who might reconsider their support if it appears that the charity is favoring one political candidate over another.

“I can’t afford to lose funding from these private individuals,†he said. “If this was the Democrats, I’d have the same exact problem.â€

In trying to stay apolitical, he lost donors who felt he was favoring the other political candidate. Antal can't win and Youngstowners go hungry. I hope some rich liberal celebrity will step in to try and fill the funding raising gap caused by hurt Ryan supporters. Maybe one of the Dixie Chicks, George Clooney, or a Jolie-Pitt?

[Arete]

The gap isn't because of pissed off Ryan supporters, the gap is because people who do not support Ryan are pissed off. He didn't ensure the organization stayed apolitical, that is the problem. Don't throw your volunteers under the bus, you run it, it's your responsibility to keep it apolitical. That excuse that the Ryan campaign "ramroded" their way in reeks of BS.

The soup kitchen president needs to send out an apology that this happened on all social media, instead of whining that he is getting anonymous phone calls from ticked off donors. The donors have a right to be ticked off. Ryan isn't coming to the soup kitchen's rescue, deal and grovel to your donors, because people getting a hot meal is more important than trying to pass the buck.

[Lillybee]

I think that I will donate to that soup kitchen.