Posted on 11/23/2004 11:16:59 AM PST by FairfaxVA
Some consumers and advocacy groups are upset that retailers including Target have banned the Salvation Army's Christmas tradition of bell-ringing volunteers who solicit donations for the poor.
The bans have touched off controversy among retailers. Some top sellers seem to be catering to the charity to win over consumers ticked off at other stores for kicking the bell-ringers off their property.
"The Salvation Army has a remarkable history of providing year-round service to families, and Big Lots is proud to continue our tradition of helping with their fundraising goals," this Columbus, Ohio, retailer said in a statement after Target's announcement it would ban the charity.
They were followed by auto parts chain AutoZone and the nation's No. 3 bookseller chain, Books-A-Million Inc., the Boston Globe reported. BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. has also stepped in to help by allowing the kettles at its stores.
The nation's No. 1 retailer, Wal-Mart, has also welcomed the bell-ringers, but with restrictions: They must stand outside stores and are limited to 14 days, the Globe said.
The bans by Target, Circuit City, Best Buy, Home Depot and others come amid the Salvation Army's 113th year of doing what it can to fend for the poor and unfortunate.
Shoppers "are coming here for a reason, and the reason is not for solicitation of any kind by a third party," said Steve Mullen, a spokesman for Circuit City.
Target's decision "was a huge shock and a huge source of discouragement for us," Lt. David Grindle, a spokesman for the charity, told Fox News Channel.
The retailer pointed to its corporate policy forbidding solicitation.
"Like many nationwide retailers, Target Corporation has implemented this policy in order to be consistent with all the groups that request access to our stores and to provide our guests with a comfortable, distraction-free shopping environment," the company says in a statement posted on its Web site.
"Target does not permit individuals (including political candidates and/or their campaign organizations) or non-profit organizations to solicit donations, distribute literature, sell merchandise, or hold events on our premises.
"Our company has many other means by which it can support organizations whose charitable programs fall within our corporate giving guidelines." Target says it gives $2 million annually to "neighborhoods, programs and schools across the country."
The policy will no doubt be a blow to the charity, which last year collected 10 percent of its $93 million in holiday collections from Target shoppers, Fox News said.
'A Lump of Coal'
It's unclear whether the kettle-kicking retailers dislike the Salvation Army or are merely acting out of concern for customers. What is clear is that not all customers like their decisions.
"It's a disgrace," South Boston resident Phyllis McElaney told the Globe. "The bell ringers remind you of the meaning of Christmas, that it's about love, caring, and giving."
"Call it a safe bet - maybe even a bright-red, bull's-eye, fashionable, smartly priced bet - that American life has become too corporate or complex when Target banishes the Salvation Army's bell ringers," Indianapolis Star columnist Ruth Holladay wrote.
Others say they'll take their business elsewhere.
"I thought it was wrong because the Salvation Army is a good cause. They take care of lots of good people around the country and in our community. I won't be supporting Target this year, at all," once-loyal Target shopper Jeffrey Trimm told Christian World News.
Robert Knight of Concerned Women for America told CWN, "Millions of Christians give Target millions of dollars in their Christmas shopping, and what they've gotten from Target in return? A lump of coal.
"We had one tangible aspect of Christmas, beyond the commercial reason. We had the Salvation Army out there, a Christian charity collecting money for the poor at Christmas. What a great counterweight to the all-mighty dollar which is being worshipped in these stores," he added.
The opposition has even produced a Web site called bantarget.org, calling on all shoppers to spend their money at businesses that support bell-ringers.
Grindle says if the charity can't replace its losses, it will have to cut services.
And to follow, hundreds of shrill cries to 'boycott target'!!!!
Hey, boycott fans - how many of you are going to be out there ringing the bell for the salvation army????
What's Target? Is it a store?... I'll be looking for Stores with the SA Santa outside ringing the bell....That's the store that'll get my business.
Neither. It's concern over lawsuits by loony moonie and other groups that want to stand outside and beg for money. That they will be aided and abetted by the ACLU makes it a concern.
Still, no excuse.
No more Target for this season.
yes.. let's trash target! non-christian infidels is all they are.
.
No bell ringing here, but I always donate. This is just one more bump down the stairs into the cellar for Christ in Christmas. Retailers want it to be all about buying, not giving. One wonders what their solution will be once the "Holiday Shopping Season" is backed up all the way to January?
BTW, I have never, never, been coerced in any way by a bell-wringing SA representative to give a donation. They have always been courteous and cheerful.
I suspect that the real reason for Target's ban: They expect the shoppers to spend all their money in their stores and not to give a few coins to the SA.
don't need to-- I donate to each and every one I see in my area.
good way to rationalize it.
You know that target donates millions and millions of dollars worth of merchandise to the salvation army every year, don't you?
By your rationale, they don't need to allow bell ringers at target, because they already give to the salvation army.
Here's one for ya dude.
You seem a little too inverted in this topic.
As to your point that people should be volunteering to ring the bell,this is another way that Target's actions hurt the poor.Salvation Army hires people who are just recovering to do that.It is often down and out people first chance at a job and a step towards improving their lives.
FWIW, if you see a Santa ringing a bell, it's not the Salvation Army.
The Santas are typically Volunteers in America.
Still, your sentiment (and contribution) is appreciated.
They also hire (or at least used to) college students. I rang bells in New York back in the 70s.
I didn't realize that Home Depot also banned the Army. Looks like Lowes just gained another customer. I hope our local WalMarts aren't foolish enough to boot out Toys-for-Tots this year. That would be a BIG mistake.
I'll call on that one.
Do you have a legitimate source for that claim? They list "national partners" as United Way, Red Cross, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, United Negro College Fund, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, No Child Left Behind, and Reach out and Read. No Salvation Army listed here:
http://target.com/target_group/community_giving/partnerships.jhtml;jsessionid=KKCGRKDM524JJLARAAVGW4FMCEACW1IX
The also have a foundation giving only to local groups in the Twin Cities area.
Finally, local giving is limited to early childhood reading groups, family violence groups, and arts groups.
http://target.com/target_group/community_giving/local_giving.jhtml;jsessionid=KKCGRKDM524JJLARAAVGW4FMCEACW1IX
Thats plain Silly...you don't have to ring a bell to help ring up the money given to a worthy cause!
I'm surprised Home Depot is on the list as I heard they donated very much to the war effort.
I guess I just don't get it.
Target donates to the Salvation Army, so I'm sure it's not an anti-Christian thing.
It seems that nobody can solicit donations, not even non-Christian organizations.
What's the fuss about? I wish the Wal-Mart here had that policy. There's somebody out there for something or another every day.
This is being spun into a "Target hates the Savation Army and poor people" story. I like the bell-ringers too but I see nothing wrong with Target's stand.
Want to blame somebody? Blame the million other people that decided to stand around these stores looking for donations year-round. People complain to the store about individuals or other charities. The store can either get rid of them all or take the chance of these "donation seekers" running off some business. I wouldn't even go to the K-Mart here because of I got sick of people hitting me up for money outside.
Irritates me too.
However, I've NEVER been accosted or solicited by a bell ringer. They just stand there and ring.
Which is why they get my money :-)
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