In many locations throughout the U.S., and several spots right here in Sleepy Eye, red 24-hour clothing donation boxes have been popping up over the past few years. Following this model but with proceeds going to fund their own programs, the Brown County Disabled American Veterans (DAV) have now placed green donation boxes in Springfield, New Ulm and Sleepy Eye.
DAV members Ralph Grundmeyer and Roy Janni installed their green donation box at Freedom Valu Gas Station on Monday. For now, the box is placed right next to a red donation box run by the controversial company U’SAgain. However, Grundmeyer explained that the red box will be gone as soon as possible.
Grundmeyer is encouraging residents to bring their used clothing and shoes to this box instead of the drop-off point operated by U’SAgain. That way, residents will be supporting a non-profit organization helping people in their community instead of a for-profit business, Grundmeyer explained.
DAV members will be picking up clothes dropped off in Springfield, New Ulm and Sleepy Eye once per week. The donations will then be taken to the DAV headquarters in New Ulm, where they will load the clothes onto a 16’ trailer. Once the trailer is filled with the 7,000 pounds of clothing it can hold, DAV members will drive the load to an area Savers store to sell.
All the money made from these donations will stay within the Brown County DAV. Mainly, the funds will help support the DAV medical van, which makes runs three times per week to Veterans Affairs clinics in Minneapolis and St. Cloud. Grundmeyer took pride in the fact that the Brown County DAV is the only one in the state that owns and operates its own van, and he wants to keep it that way.
The main problem reported in the media against U'SAgain is twofold. For one, many people are uncomfortable with U’SAgain making a profit off the donations. However, U’SAgain President Janice Bostic told the New Richmond News that they have never hidden the fact they are a for-profit business.
Other than this issue of profit, many in media reports have expressed their concern about U’SAgain hurting local non-profit thrift stores. According to an article in the Faribault Daily News, volunteers at the Clothes Closet have seen a dip in their donations since U’SAgain placed drop-off boxes in their community.
Perhaps the most obscure area of concern about U’SAgain has to do with their supposed connection with the multinational organization The Teachers Group (also known as Tvind). Comprised of charities and for-profit businesses, this group has been charged with tax crimes and money laundering, as well as reports about their leaders spending funds on luxuries like a $6 million yacht.
