If you've seen pink bags in neighborhoods in Middle Tennessee, you're not alone.
In the past few weeks, numerous people have reported having pink bags from a charity called Hope for Domestic Violence dropped off at their homes asking for donations.
"All of the houses had them kind of positioned on the corner of the gutters and kind of just sticking out." Chris Sorter, a resident of Hermitage, said. "The Hope for Domestic Violence, that's pulling at all the heart strings."
The problem is, according to the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee, donating to this charity is not doing the good people think it is.
"The reality is, you're not probably helping the needy, you'll be helping the greedy." Kathleen Calligan, President and CEO of BBB Middle Tennessee explained.
Hope for Domestic Violence and their pink bags have been around for years, and during that time, there has been plenty of controversy surrounding where the donations go, and where money made by the charity is allocated.
"It's not just in Middle Tennessee, this is happening all over the southeast." Calligan said, adding that the group from Atlanta should not be classified as a charity.
Calligan said if you want to donate to help those in need, there are better ways to do it. "Just because someone ties a pink bag around your mailbox doesn't mean you need to put a thing in it."
The BBB says one of the main problems is at face value, Hope for Domestic Violence appears to be a group doing good.
"I think my wife and I actually donated some items." Tim Murcer, a resident in East Nashville, said, adding that he didn't think twice before donating, expecting that the charity would be on par with others he's donated to. "The post office does canned drives and other charities do things, so we didn't think anything of it. We just thought maybe we were helping our community, helping Nashville."
Hope for Domestic Violence is classified as a church group, not specifically as a charity, so the way the donations and profits are reported are different, and the BBBsaid the details are easier to conceal.
