Before I start this blog, I want to make it PERFECTLY clear that you are entitled to your opinion. I have mine, and it is based solely on my own observations, involvements, research, and personal growth. You can volunteer or donate to any of the non-profits listed in this post of your own free will. I am simply suggesting that you do your own research on all organizations and find the one who has the most integrity and best interest of the people.
Now, keep in mind, that I USED to volunteer for Spread Peace Reno many months ago. I do not like them, nor do I trust them. I fully admit that having some public recognition got me in the beginning and my self esteem was higher for those coupla months. It felt really great to be helping our homeless throughout the winter. I must admit that I brought in huge donations from great people by the truckloads.As I actually observed SPR (Spread Peace Reno), I found some things that didn't settle right with me morally. Videos, tons of videos, even though people asked them not too. Everything became "look at us" and "Who can you help today?" It dawned on me, in an instant, that it wasn't about the homeless people at all. Well, maybe some. Oh heck, I don't know yet. Was I really helping? Who was I helping? Would it matter if I was there or not? As luck would have it, a huge donation of brand new merchandise came in from another non-profit. Binoculars, hand-held radio/alarm clocks, children CD's, badge holders with beautiful beads and expensive clasps, books, recipe books, and the list goes on. I kept asking Chris Tinney/Tysha Tinney, the founders of Spread Peace Reno, if they had gotten a hold of the person who donated all of them and the answer was always no. This REALLY upset me and I finally began to see the light. I left SPR immediately and began to research non-profits, how they work, and Google names of founders. What I found was unbelievable and I'm very happy that I had a chance to learn the "hard way". It has made me a much more knowledgeable person.
Somewhere in the midst of all of this "helping others", I found myself in a personal financial crisis and went to a local food bank by where I live. Hands of Hope Food Bank. I can't even remember how I heard of them, but I remember my first visit! What a change of pace for me. Completely different environment than what I am used to at a regular food bank. I knew right away that THIS was what "helping" people was all about. I observed people helping themselves, but yet, needing a boost once in awhile. Must be a weekly thing because they all keep coming back :) Hands of Hope Food Bank gets NO government funding so they don't have to beg, borrow, and steal to get the attention of the government grants. That is truly a deadly course for most government funded organizations. Of course, now I volunteer for them.
It seems that Spread Peace Reno has taken a tumble with one of their founding Ministers being voted off the board. Not sure what Board it is because everything just goes in Circles. Maybe it's the same Board that the the founders are 2/3 the majority. The non-profit board? Well, let's see here. Pastor Ron is holding two positions and Chris V Tinney is holding another. Some fictitious person is holding the third officer requirement. Anyone one know a Tinny V Chris? Isn't this fraud? They voted Ron off due to his health and making accusations of Chris Tinney taking money without authorization. This thing is in serious trouble.
Spread peace Cafe seems to be doing well under the circumstances. I think Chris is a 25% owner, but he's only giving 2% to his own non-profit (SPR). This will NOT keep it a float by any means. It doesn't matter how much publicity they get online, the bottom line is that they haven't been able to pay their bills since they started. Now they are even in debt to Northern Nevada Food Bank. You know what is the worst thing of all? They want to keep growing? HELLO PEOPLE! I understand that they have bills to pay, but they are NOT even a 501(c)(3). Begging online and exploiting the homelessness in the area is not always a good thing.
As many of you know, or have researched, the Tinney's have tons of websites. One is called the Peace Church. I seems to be an online church for everybody. How cool is that? The problem that I see is that it is exactly the same crap that the Tinney's brought to Reno. They even had Street Teams in California. I guess people weren't as gullible there as they are here. Nothing has been posted in a year on that site. That's about the same time the Tinney's landed in Reno.
Spread Peace Reno and Spread Peace Cafe continuously post false advertising for self gain, in my opinion. If you constantly say the the Cafe is going to be a "Buy one meal and a homeless person gets one for free" then do it! I'm really sick and tired of hearing the homeless residents at Tent City (Safe Ground)say that they haven't received anything. After all, it is those exact people that gave you all the publicity SPR! Did you invite these people to your Cafe? Did they enjoy the meal? Let me answer this...Spread Peace Cafe had said that they weren't going to be involved with SPR due to the politics. No wait, Chris if a founder of both. Wait, they were going to announce the Motels and it's residents that were getting the free meal. Oops, my bad, they are going to give a meal to a "needy" person. Nope, they sent milk out to tent city. OMG! You really need to live here and be right in the middle of all this to truly get the picture.
Now, how about that 2% that the Cafe is going to give SPR? That's the lowest amount I have ever heard of! $10,000=$200 for the non-profit that is sinking but keeps spurting out ideas to grow. There is obviously some legal and financial issues that have to be addressed now also.
This is really sad! I cannot believe that the people support this kind of organization. There is so many un-dotted "I's" and missed "T's". SPR constantly removes questions from their Facebook. They are only allowed to have positive and uplifting comments on their site. Now how ridiculous is that? If someone questions what they say verses what they do, don't you think a non-profit should be willing to just answer it HONESTLY. Quit spreading you Peace, Kindness, and Inspiration crap and take care of the people you are asking to support your failing business.
Now I have been blocked from their sites on Facebook. Not surprising because I keep asking questions and getting no answers from them. If you are not going to answer, then I'm going to research and find out how much your integrity is worth. As of right now...it's NONE! Slander is not applicable here :) I have personally seen, done, researched, or participated enough to voice my opinion and facts. If I was calling them potheads, that would be slander because I don't know if they are or not. I'm not saying they are, it's just an example.
Before becoming a PeacePal, I simply want everyone to do their own research on the non-profit and start with the paperwork filed with the Nevada Sec. of State. You decide. If the CAUSE is worth it...find a way to support the CAUSE. If you like the SPR and SPCafe, then try supporting them. It's all about choice right?
If you owe the Northern Nevada Food Bank money, why do you keep ordering and why do they allow you to order? Any other business would discontinue services. What's the catch?
How all this affects our homeless will be in the next blog...I think...
