Materials for the Arts (MFTA) in NYC refuses a Fashiontribes Donation. Why? We Braved a Flat Tire, Fri. Afternoon Traffic & Arrived 9 Minutes Late. A Fine Example of Your Tax Dollars at Work & An Abominably Rude City Worker - FASHIONTRIBES PODCAST & BLOG

Materials for the Arts (MTFA) in NYC refuses a Fashiontribes Donation. Why? We Braved a Flat Tire, Friday Afternoon Traffic & Arrived 9 Minutes Late. A Fine Example of Your Tax Dollars at Work & An Abominably Rude City Worker - FASHIONTRIBES PODCAST & BLOG - MP3 File

Materials for the Arts (MFTA) in NYC refuses to accept a great donation...don't let this happen to you!

Such a great idea - people & businesses donate stuff in good condition like bolts of fabric, theatre props, office equipment etc. which directly benefits over 3000 non-profit theatre groups, museums, exhibition spaces, literary & arts organizations, public TV & radio, schools & artists. Not only are tons of unwanted goods removed from the city's sanitation system - they receive funding from the Department of Sanitation, the Board of Education & the Department of Cultural Affairs - but the recipients who visit the MFA warehouse in Queens (33-00 Northern Boulevard, 3rd Fl. 718.729.3001 www.mfta.org) get to "shop" for free, stocking up on much-needed supplies for their projects, productions and plays."We help artists realize their visions, provide students with a richer educactional experience, and furnish businesses with a simple and efficient way to enhance the cultural life of their city," explains MFA.

So far so good....so why did they outright refuse to take our Fashiontribes donation last Friday, August 8/19?  We had over 2000 yards of beautiful blue silk charmeuse fabric, an Apple iMac (which yours truly schlepped up to Tekserve the day before to get serviced & ok'd) & CD burner, a dress form, and lots more goodies in great condition. 

Just the facts, m'aam:

• In loading up the van to schlepp out to Long Island City - a royal pain traffic-wise on a Friday afternoon, especially when it's raining - we got a flat. AAA took a while to show, and we were getting nervous because MFA only accepts donations until 3 pm on Fridays.
• At 2:15, I called and left a message with their intake person, letting them know we were on our way & to call me should there be any potential problem. No call back; this is the same intake person who originally ok'd my donation when I first called about it, so I know I was calling the correct extension.
• By 2:50, we had made it to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, & I again called (of course, the machine picked up again) & left a message saying we were about 10-15 minutes away. No return phone call.
• 3:10 we got there & rushed up to MFA.

And how do you like this: the supervisor person at the intake desk steadfastly refused to take our donation. I told him we had called repeatedly & he brusquely dismissed us with a, "well, you called the wrong extension." Given that I called the extension that the phone system told me to, why is this my problem? This "supervisor" person was so unbelievably rude & dismissive, that after I simmered down, I could only wonder how many other times he has pulled a stunt like this - how many other donations he has rudely refused for no good reason?

So be aware of the 411 if you plan to drop off at MFA. While it's a great cause, it's also underwritten by our tax dollars & the donations of those same taxpayers, and the way we were handled was completely out-of-order. I regret that I can't continue to recommend that people donate to them while their intake staff behaves in a manner that can only be described as ridiculous & unbelievably rude.

Have a similar tale of woe? Email me Lesley@fashiontribes.com & I'll be sure to pass it along, or  call/email them at 718.729.30001: Harriet Taub, Director x201 htaub@mfta.org or Deputy Director Robert Bangiola x204 rbangiola@mfta.org.

CHECK THIS OUT: THE MFTA FAUX-APOLOGIZES: The director emails us back

Dear Lesley -

What can I say?  I am truly sorry that you had a bad experience on
Friday. Unfortunately, you did not speak to the main office until after
this happened or we would have explained to you that the elevator is not
operational after 3:00pm on Fridays and tried to work something out.
Since you already decided to share your negative experience with the
world there is not much I can add.  For all the good work we do, it is
unfortunate that for those who don't know about MFTA and the thousands
of organizations we serve, this will be a rather unfair introduction.
Actually, I think MFTA is a great example of your tax dollars at work.
I am not sure if the DMV would process your license if you arrived 10
minutes after the doors closed.  We pride ourselves on going the extra
mile and this was a case where that didn't happen. 

Sincerely,

Harriet Taub
Director
Materials for the Arts
33-00 Northern Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-729-3001 ext 201
718-729-3941(fax)

The DMV? Hello?! What on earth does this have to do with the DMV? Unlike the DMV, this operation runs on, er, donations. Whatever.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Our plight just made it to the papers! The Long Island City Journal's Queens Ledger not only ran a feature about this whole sordid business, but an editorial smacking them on the wrist as well. CLICK HERE to read all about it.

Fashiontribes Materials for the Arts MFA Nonprofit Arts Organization Tax Dollars Squandered