BanTarget - Boycott Target to bring back Salvation Army Bell Ringers

http://www.bantarget.org/ ^ | 09/29/2004 | The Chitwood

[bantarget]

Target has banned the Salvation Army bell ringers from collecting donations outside stores this holiday season. A Target spokeswoman says they can no longer allow the Salvation Army to be an exception to Target's ban on solicitations at Target stores. The Salvation Army raised nearly 9 Million dollars in front of Target stores last year. The Salvation Army is anticipating Target's decision to effect services offered by the non-profit organization.

We don't feel Target has made the correct decision in banning the Salvation Army. Below is a copy of the letter we sent to Target about the issue.

Target:

Our family is calling for a boycott of Target Stores. Our boycott is in response to your recent decision to ban Salvation Army bell ringers from your store fronts. We are in turn calling for shoppers to ban their wallets from your cash registers.

Your historic policy has been to exclude the Salvation Army from your ban on solicitation at Target stores. Your change in policy does not only deprive our fellow man of much needed assistance but you are also depriving me the opportunity to teach my children generosity of spirit. My wife and I go to great effort to insure we have cash when we visit Target during the holidays. That cash is given to our children to place into the Salvation Army kettle. Our children are kindly thanked for their donation. Our hearts are gently warmed by this simple act.

We call for you to reinstate your prior policy. Please allow the Salvation Army bell ringers to remain in front of your stores. We will happily end our boycott when you agree to let the bell ringers return.

Regards,

The Chitwood Family

Overland Park KS

Visit www.bantarget.org to send Target your own boycott letter.

[formercalifornian]

I love shopping at Target, but what a Scroogey thing to do.When the bottom line comes before charity, that's the opposite of Christmas. Wal-Mart this year.

[mlmr]

As a Christian who is tired of being marginalized during a holiday that celebrates the birth of my Savior, target can kiss my money and the money of my family and everyone else I can persuade to respond on the Internet.

[steplock]

I WAS going to send a letter to Target via your website, but you don't allow changes to the wording you use.

It was not what I wanted to say.

Is there an email link to Target we can use for our own message?

[Darksheare]

Welcome to FR.
Wal Mart used to let Salvation Army bell ringers stand inside in the heat in December.
That changed in 1998.
The company decided that they were an annoyance inside the building, though they didn't say it that way, and told the SA bell ringers to stand outside.
As far as I know, they have not changed their policy on that.
I am not aware if this is districtwide, nationwide, or just merely a few area stores near me.

[escapefromboston]

Do the salvation army people really bother shoppers??

[Aetius]

No, they don't. Well not me anyway. But I'd be willing to bet this has more to do with the Salvation Army's policies on homosexuality have more to do with this decision.

[escapefromboston]

I really don't know much about what the Salvation Army believes. I would rather them then those kids who ask for money for thier sports teams.

[Awestruck]

JC Penneys tried to pull the same stunt... when the boycott hit them in the pocketbook and cost them positive press, they tried to invite the SA back... but they moved on to friendlier stores... now Target's trying the same thing.. let them suffer the same fate... this is a topic near and dear to my heart...I married into a family of long time SA officers... they are probably one of the best and most trustworthy charities around...

[flashbunny]

just joined today for this?

Do you not realize the consequences of the 'public spaces' rulings that various courts have made that make it difficult for stores like target to allow only the causes they like on their property?

You may want to do as much homework looking up the truth of the situation as you have running to start a boycott of target.

[Eric Roelfsema]

The reason Target has had to do this is for this main reason. As a former employee and current stockholder of Target, This is my opinion and not the opinion of Target, is they have on the doors a No Solicitation sign on the entrance to the stores. They have had an exception for the Salvation Army for years.

By having the No Solicitation sign on their doors, no charity, such as the Salvation Army, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and any other organization are allowed to ask for contributions on Target's property. If they allowed the Salvation Army to be on their property, they must also allow the Labor Unions on their property to try to unionize the employees of the store. When I did work at Target a number of years ago, I had to kick off some of the Girl Scouts trying to sell their cookies on Target property for exactly that reason.

[bantarget]

Lechmere, Inc. v. NLRB, 502 U.S. 527 (1992). provides for Target to continue the limited exception for the Salvation Army. They are not obligated to allow labor unions to enter. And I quote Lawrence C. Winger, Esq. "There are two recognized qualifications to the prohibition against discriminatory enforcement of no solicitation rules. First, if an employer has previously allowed a "small number of isolated beneficent solicitations," then that past practice does not require the employer to allow union solicitations. Second, if an employer has previously allowed solicitations directly related to the employer's business functions and purposes, then that past practice does not require the employer to allow union solicitations."

[marmar]

I believe target is owned by a french company....so I don't shop there. Any input on this?????

[AFA-Michigan]

Target is notoriously pro-homosexual agenda, and no doubt is punishign the Salvation Army for adhering to traditional values such as one-man, one-woman marriage. Remember that SA has been "Target"-ed the last two Christmases by homosexual activist groups putting fake $5 bills in their kettles calling them bigots and homophobes. SALUTE to the Army, and don't spend a dime at Tar-zyay (the French pronunciation).

[daybreakcoming]

Since 9/11 - the Salvation Army has gotten the money that I used to direct to the Red Cross. And now WalMart will get the money that I used to give to Target. The only reason I shopped Target at times was to avoid the crowds at Walmart. In your face Target.

[daybreakcoming]

This page provides one way of contacting them. There is also an 800 number on it.
http://www.target.com/exec/obidos/handle-generic-form/${0}/602-4596320-4839018?action=next%252dpage&target=help%252fself%252dservice%252demail%252dform%252ehtml&display=tsq&browse=1041342&method=GET%2520%2596%2520Target%2520Store%2520Questions

[BJungNan]

Could be a sign of the times. If Target lets Salvation Army do it, they might be forced to let the Satinist Charity Association Against Christmas to do it also.

[AppyPappy]

Did they ban ALL soliciters or just SA?

[AppyPappy]

SA rings outside the Walmart here.

[AppyPappy]

Not true. Stores can pick and choose who is allowed to solicit.