Red Cross Red Tape

Last night, my wife got a call from someone we know who is working at a Red Cross certified shelter near us helping with the Hurrican relief effort. She was calling to tell us that she had "saved" food that they were going to throw out that night and wanted to know if my wife Jill knew of any shelters that needed the food.

It was an interesting coincidence since just an hour earlier we got a call from Jill's mom telling us about a non-Red Cross shelter north of us that was in desperate need of food. So Jill went down to get the food and her brother Paul (who was coincidently visiting us) was able to take the food down to the shelter that was in desperate need of food.

Now you may be wondering why were they going to throw out the food at the Red Cross shelter?

It's because after they cook the food, they can not store it and use it again according to the Red Cross regulations. They have to throw it away! What a ridiculous waste of food that could be helping others.

If I were President I would try to influence the Red Cross to get rid of the Red Tape. I don't want to go into all the hoops you have to jump through to be a Red Cross shelter, but it's really ridiculous.