PRIVACY POLICY 

Guardians of the Children (GOC), Big Sandy Chapter

1. LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) explains how the Big Sandy Chapter of Guardians of the Children (“GOC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, protects, and shares your information when you visit and use [www.gocbigsandy.com] and/or any of its subdomains (collectively referred to as the “Site” or “Website”).

We reserve the right to update or change this Policy at any time. To stay informed, we encourage you to review this page periodically. By using this Website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy, as well as our Terms and Conditions and any other policies that may apply to Services offered on this Website and at GOC events, including any Shipping, Returns & Refunds Policies.

2. WHY WE COLLECT YOUR DATA

We collect personal information for purposes such as:

  • To better understand your needs and support our mission

  • To improve our services, communications, and Website experience

  • To contact you regarding event information, updates, volunteer opportunities, and organization-related announcements

  • To send promotional or informational emails we believe you may find helpful or relevant

  • To invite you to surveys, community engagement, or feedback opportunities

  • To customize the Website based on your behavior and preferences

3. WHAT USER DATA WE COLLECT

A) Direct User Data You Provide

We may collect information you provide directly, including:

  • Your name and contact information (email address, phone number, mailing address)

  • Optional profile information (date of birth, gender, location, preferred language)

  • Interests, preferences, or engagement history

  • Payment information (when applicable) such as debit/credit card details, expiration date, billing zip code

  • Shipping and billing addresses (when applicable)

  • Your communications with us (email, texts, messages, or social media interactions)

  • Testimonials, reviews, survey responses, event participation details, and other user-generated content

B) Indirect Data Collected Automatically

When you use our Website, we may automatically collect:

  • Your IP address

  • Approximate location data

  • Device and browser information

  • Website usage data and online behavior on our Site

4. PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTED AUTOMATICALLY

Location Data

To help protect against fraud, provide services, and improve user experience, we may collect location-related information including current and historical geographic information, GPS location (with permission), transaction location, and IP addresses. Location may be determined through GPS, Wi-Fi, wireless triangulation, IP address, or third-party services (such as mapping tools).

We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party applications used in connection with our Website.

Usage and Device Data via Tracking Technologies

We and our third-party partners may collect usage information using tracking technologies such as cookies, web beacons, embedded scripts, and similar tools (“Tracking Technologies”). This may include:

  • Browser and device type

  • Operating system

  • Internet service provider

  • Date/time stamps

  • Unique device identifiers

  • Pages visited and time spent on the Site

These tools help us improve functionality, monitor performance, and provide a better user experience.

5. TEXT MESSAGING (SMS) PRIVACY 

If you provide your mobile phone number, you may receive text messages from Guardians of the Children (GOC), Big Sandy Chapter related to our mission, events, volunteer opportunities, donation confirmations, organizational updates, and other communications you request.

What We Collect for Texting

When you opt in to receive SMS/text messages, we may collect:

  • Your name

  • Your phone number

  • Any message content you send to us

  • Communication history related to texting

How We Use Texting Data

We use the information for purposes including:

  • Sending requested information and organization updates

  • Communicating about events, scheduling, and volunteer coordination

  • Providing donation confirmations or important announcements

  • Supporting engagement with our organization

Opt-In

You may opt in to receive text messages by:

  • Submitting your phone number through our Website forms

  • Signing up at an event

  • Requesting information by message or direct communication

Opt-Out

You can opt out at any time by replying:

STOP (to unsubscribe)

You may also reply:

HELP (for assistance)

Message Frequency + Rates

Message frequency may vary depending on engagement, events, or communications you request.
Message and data rates may apply.

Mobile Opt-In Data

Mobile opt-in data will not be shared with third parties.

6. DATA SHARING AND THIRD PARTIES

We may share certain information with third parties only as needed for operational purposes such as:

  • Payment processing

  • Donation platforms or fundraising tools

  • Website hosting and management

  • Email and messaging communication services

  • Shipping providers (if applicable)

  • Technology partners that help operate our Website and communication channels

We do not sell or lease your personal information as a business practice.

We may disclose personal information if required by law, legal process, or law enforcement requests.

7. THIRD-PARTY APPLICATIONS THAT MAY COLLECT YOUR DATA

Our Website and services may involve third-party tools or platforms, including but not limited to:

  • Google

  • Wix

  • PayPal

  • Social Media Platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, TikTok, etc.)

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these services, as their practices are not controlled by us.

We may also receive information from third parties such as charitable partners, service providers, or public sources, and may combine it with information we collect.

8. SAFEGUARDING AND SECURING THE DATA

Guardians of the Children, Big Sandy Chapter is committed to protecting your data and keeping it confidential. We use reasonable safeguards to help prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse, including industry-standard security measures and PCI-compliant payment practices where applicable.

We also encourage you to protect your own devices and accounts (log out after use, avoid sharing passwords, and use secure devices).

9. COOKIE POLICY

By using our Website, you agree to our use of cookies and similar technologies to analyze traffic and improve your experience.

Cookies help us understand which pages are visited most and how users interact with our Website. Cookies do not give us control over your device.

If you wish to disable cookies, you can adjust your browser settings. The process varies by browser and device.

10. LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES

Our Website may contain links to external websites. If you click these links, we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party sites. Please review the privacy policies of any website you visit.

11. RESTRICTING THE COLLECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA

You may choose to limit what personal information you provide. Some forms may include optional fields that you can leave blank.

If you have previously agreed to share information and would like us to remove information that we control, you may contact us. Please note that certain third-party platforms may retain data as part of their independent policies, and we may have limited control over those systems.

12. ACCESSIBILITY OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy should be accessible anywhere personal information is collected, including:

  • Contact forms

  • Donation forms

  • Volunteer signups

  • Event registrations

  • Any area where a phone number or email is submitted