A growing child goes through clothes faster than Paris Hilton. That's why parents usually have a donation bag of used clothes in their car trunk at all times. I'm no exception. I'm always on the lookout for a drop-box where I can unload my son's latest cast-offs and benefit a good cause. Anything charity-related will do.

Or it used to. Lately, I've started taking the extra few minutes it takes to head specifically for The Salvation Army thrift shop located not far from my home. Considering that I am religious in my laziness and incorrigible in my agnosticism, this is a big deal.

In the past, I often ended up at another thrift shop, which is a block or two closer to me and qualifies in my books as a good enough cause. But the disincentives started to accumulate.

The other thrift shop has no 24-hour drop slot, so when it's closed, donations pile up outside in disorderly lumps. These lumps attract people looking for a better deal than even the store itself can offer—which means that after hours, there are usually several shadowy characters lurking in the drop-off area. I call these folks “shadowy” because that is literally how they appear. The outside of the store is poorly lit. Combine that with the graffiti on the shutters and the place gives off a vibe that is positively uninviting.

On the other hand, The Salvation Army thrift shop, which is just a minute away on the same street, is neat and brightly lit after hours. There's no graffiti, but there is a 24-hour drop slot, which probably explains the absence of junky piles and uninvited junk sifters eyeing you suspiciously.

Recipe for Success
While it's true that these circumstances alone were enough to put me off that other thrift store and on to The Salvation Army—one feels vulnerable alone at night with only an overstuffed bag of Superman pyjamas for protection—there's more to this story. I also started to think that the differences between the stores are no coincidence. They are a reflection of the way the two organizations approach their charitable work. The people at the other thrift store are doing their job. The people at The Salvation Army are on a mission.

The Salvation Army is what political types like to call a “faith-based organization.” Normal people would call it a Christian church. Its explicit mission statement is to “share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.” Members are motivated not by a paycheque or a public-service requirement or even a vague sense of helping out, but by a passionate belief that they are doing God's bidding by empowering the poor.

It's no wonder, then, that they're more likely to do the little things that make a big difference: removing graffiti as soon as it appears, making sure the drop-off area is clean and well-lit.

This kind of pride in detail is self-perpetuating and infectious. Graffiti artists are less likely to target a place that looks well cared for and bright. People are less likely to chuck their donations on a sidewalk that is clear of debris and where there's an easy alternative available.

Whether The Salvation Army is, in all cases, a more effective organization than others, I am in no position to say. What seems obvious, though, is that many religious charities have a more driven and dedicated workforce simply by virtue of who they are. That's a recipe for success.

The National Post, February 23, 2010.