United States Mission

I just got a new kind of solicitor at my door today. A scruffy looking young guy came by with a loose leaf notebook with a picture id and an official looking piece of paper.

He said he wasn't selling anything. He said he was with The United States Mission. I asked if he were a religious organization and he said, "No." He mentioned something about going door to door every year since 1993 in our neighborhood. I've lived in my house for 5 1/2 years and never heard of it.

I politely dismissed him and looked up his organization so I would know for the next time someone came around whether I'd like to help out or not.

It was tough to find their website, but I found it, and and looked like it was designed about ten years ago.

On their website, they state:

While the United States Mission is a religious organization it is strictly service oriented. The Mission respects the beliefs of all its Members and would not presume to instruct anyone in matters of faith or ritual.

I couldn't find much at all on the organization anywhere else, but what I found was some old court documents from 2000 when Medina tried to stop religious and political solicitors from going door to door.

The United States Mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious corporation and an interdenominational Christian-based organization. The Mission operates residential facilities as a transitional program for homeless persons who are willing and able to work.

Residents of the Mission engage in door-to-door religious solicitation on behalf of the Mission to practice the "Social Gospel," inspired by Chapter 25 of the Bible's Book of Matthew. Door-to-door fundraising by its residents is the Mission's primary means of support for its social programs.

So, the guy lied to me about being a religious organization--I'm glad I turned him away. I am weary of door-to-door solicitors and like to research charities to which I donate. While all charities are good causes, I would like to make sure the ones my money goes to are reputable.

I was unable to find them on Charity Navigator, a website which researches charities and gives them scores based on how much of your money goes to administrative costs and how much goes to the charity recipients.

So, you are now informed if a representative of this organization comes to your door.