Big thumbs down to retailers who are banning the red kettle

[Riprorin]

Retailers leave Salvation Army out in the cold

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Doesn't bug me in the least that their marketing method isn't quite as welcome. I'll still donate. Nowhere does this keep the Salvation Army from receiving donations.

?We receive an increasing number of solicitation inquiries from nonprofit organizations each year and determined that if we continue to allow the Salvation Army to solicit, then it opens the doors to other groups who wish to solicit our guests,? the company announced in a statement.

 

[Mill]

Nothing. Just more proof that many Americans don't want to think about others when trying to outdo last year's shopping spree.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Mill
Nothing. Just more proof that many Americans don't want to think about others when trying to outdo last year's shopping spree.

Yep all those proud Red State Religious Radical Right Wingers can only think about their huge bank accounts and SUV's.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Mill
Nothing. Just more proof that many Americans don't want to think about others when trying to outdo last year's shopping spree.

Yep all those proud Red State Religious Radical Right Wingers can only think about their huge bank accounts and SUV's.

Yep, Michigan is a red state.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Mill
Nothing. Just more proof that many Americans don't want to think about others when trying to outdo last year's shopping spree.

Pretty much. Can't have the needy getting in the way of the economy. A fiver in the kettle is a fiver that isn't going into Target's tills, and Target can't have that.

 

[BarneyFife]

We probably wouldn't need people to beg for money if we didn't blow all of our money in Iraq. Way to go fellow Americans. Lets feed Abdul and Mohammed in Iraq while Bob is laid off and has no money for health insurance for his family.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Mill
Nothing. Just more proof that many Americans don't want to think about others when trying to outdo last year's shopping spree.

Yep all those proud Red State Religious Radical Right Wingers can only think about their huge bank accounts and SUV's.

You Lose

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
We probably wouldn't need people to beg for money if we didn't blow all of our money in Iraq. Way to go fellow Americans. Lets feed Abdul and Mohammed in Iraq while Bob is laid off and has no money for health insurance for his family.

Wow, talk about trying to make something relevant that is not. Since when did private charity have anything to do with Iraq you troll?

 

[Vic]

Unneeded partisan bickering aside, I am personally going to deal with issue by boycotting all Target stores until they change their minds on this, and by cutting my local SA a nice check.

Thank you, Rip, for bringing this matter to my attention.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
We probably wouldn't need people to beg for money if we didn't blow all of our money in Iraq. Way to go fellow Americans. Lets feed Abdul and Mohammed in Iraq while Bob is laid off and has no money for health insurance for his family.

Wow, talk about trying to make something relevant that is not. Since when did private charity have anything to do with Iraq you troll?

And you don't call Dave a troll after his post?
Bill

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Vic
Unneeded partisan bickering aside, I am personally going to deal with issue by boycotting all Target stores until they change their minds on this, and by cutting my local SA a nice check.

Thank you, Rip, for bringing this matter to my attention.

Very True, a rarity to Thank Rip for a Post. :thumbsup:

I rarely ever went to Target anyway but now will not shop there at all.

 

[Caminetto]

Does anyone know the other side of this story, or what Target's reason was in not allowing SA to solicit?
The article mentions that Meijer also banned SA many years ago. Meijer has always been one of the largest benefactors to local charities and other community projects. Something is not quite right here.

Edit: I didn't see Hossenfeller's post when I posted the above, and yes it makes sense that these stores don't want their guests running a gauntlet of solicitors.

 

[CubicZirconia]

Originally posted by: Hossenfeffer
Doesn't bug me in the least that their marketing method isn't quite as welcome. I'll still donate. Nowhere does this keep the Salvation Army from receiving donations.

?We receive an increasing number of solicitation inquiries from nonprofit organizations each year and determined that if we continue to allow the Salvation Army to solicit, then it opens the doors to other groups who wish to solicit our guests,? the company announced in a statement.

Makes perfect sense to me. It's easy to write Target off as evil, but this statement basically sums up why the decision was inevitable.

 

[arsbanned]

Originally posted by: Hossenfeffer
Doesn't bug me in the least that their marketing method isn't quite as welcome. I'll still donate. Nowhere does this keep the Salvation Army from receiving donations.

?We receive an increasing number of solicitation inquiries from nonprofit organizations each year and determined that if we continue to allow the Salvation Army to solicit, then it opens the doors to other groups who wish to solicit our guests,? the company announced in a statement.

We send ours in by check. No kettle necessary.

We probably wouldn't need people to beg for money if we didn't blow all of our money in Iraq. Way to go fellow Americans. Lets feed Abdul and Mohammed in Iraq while Bob is laid off and has no money for health insurance for his family.

Absolutely correct. We certainly have some fvcked up priorities here in Red USA.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
We probably wouldn't need people to beg for money if we didn't blow all of our money in Iraq. Way to go fellow Americans. Lets feed Abdul and Mohammed in Iraq while Bob is laid off and has no money for health insurance for his family.

Wow, talk about trying to make something relevant that is not. Since when did private charity have anything to do with Iraq you troll?

And you don't call Dave a troll after his post?
Bill

Sorry, I should have, but Dave already knows I think he's a troll. Notice how he didn't read my link.

 

[StageLeft]

I can see Target's point, since they want to be unanimous in this approach. That said, I always found the salvation solicitations very unoffensive and quite unobtrusive (bells notwithstanding).

 

[tnitsuj]

I won't donate jack to the Salvation army. Thier are plenty of non-religious charities that don't express bigoted ideals to donate to.

 

[burnedout]

Looks like Wal-Mart bucked the trend.

Salvation for Ringers: Target's Charity Ban is a Boon to Wal-Mart - The Wall Street Journal

[Hat tip: Dr. John Ray]

By ANN ZIMMERMAN
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
December 17, 2004; Page B1

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is suddenly playing Santa to Target Corp.'s Scrooge.

The world's largest retailer said yesterday that it would match customers' donations up to a total of $1 million to the Salvation Army's red-kettle holiday drive. It is no coincidence that the retailer's beneficence comes on the heels of Target's decision to ban the Salvation Army from outside its 1,313 stores.

"The Salvation Army red kettles and the bell ringers are truly a holiday tradition worth keeping," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Betsy Reithemeyer in a statement that was a subtle jab at the chain's largest competitor.

Target has a longstanding ban on charities soliciting at its stores. It has always made an exception for the Salvation Army. But late last month the chic discount retailer decided to bar the bell ringers, too. "We wanted to make our policy consistent," said Target spokeswoman Carolyn Brookter. Target shoppers dropped almost $9 million into the red kettles last year, about 10% of the Salvation Army's holiday haul.

The money goes to local Salvation Army efforts to help needy families, which at the holidays usually means providing food, toys and clothing -- no doubt purchased at local discount stores like Wal-Mart. Who says charity doesn't begin, and end, at home?

 

[SuperTool]

Makes me like Target even more. I can't stand solicitors.
If the rednecks go to Walmart because of it, great.

The Doctrines of the Salvation Army.

1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
2. We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
3. We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
4. We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
5. We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall, all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
6. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
7. We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.
8. We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hat the witness in himself.
9. We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
10. We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
11. We believe in the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, in the general judgement at the end of the world, in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

 

[Darkhawk28]

My wife works in Target. Although there has been no formal protesting or big uproar about the decision (save some local TV news coverage here and there), some employees have been questioned by patrons as to why the Salvation Army wasn't allowed to have bell-ringers this year.

According to my wife, the order usually comes from District Managers which may get their orders from up higher. The individual stores usually don't make the decision on their own.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
Makes me like Target even more. I can't stand solicitors.
If the rednecks go to Walmart because of it, great.

The Doctrines of the Salvation Army.

1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
2. We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
3. We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
4. We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
5. We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall, all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
6. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
7. We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.
8. We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hat the witness in himself.
9. We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
10. We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
11. We believe in the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, in the general judgement at the end of the world, in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

They stand outside the store and ring a bell. If you want to give, fine, if you don't want to give, that's fine too.

They don't ask you for money.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
Makes me like Target even more. I can't stand solicitors.
If the rednecks go to Walmart because of it, great.

The Doctrines of the Salvation Army.

1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
2. We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
3. We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
4. We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
5. We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall, all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
6. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
7. We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.
8. We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hat the witness in himself.
9. We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
10. We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
11. We believe in the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, in the general judgement at the end of the world, in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

The Salvation Army Celebrates Its 125th Anniversary
Date: 10/5/2004


Philadelphia-area attorney, Stephen A. Sheller Managing Partner of Sheller, Ludwig & Badey addressed attendees at The Salvation Army?s 125th anniversary celebratory dinner on October 5, 2004 at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia. Sheller was given the honor of presenting a Special Greeting and gave a pointed presentation highlighting the dynamic history surrounding the founding of The Salvation Army in Philadelphia. Sheller also read a congratulatory letter from Presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry.

Sheller compared the founding of the Salvation Army by, Eliza Shirley and William Booth to the accomplishments of the visionary inventor, Thomas Edison who invented the first incandescent light bulb also 125 years ago. Edison?s partner was Anthony J. Drexel, founder of Drexel University and his company, Drexel, Morgan & Co. Sheller said Shirley and Booth ?lit a beacon, and in many ways a brighter light for our entire country, The Salvation Army.? And just as Drexel was a partner to Edison, Drexel University and the Salvation Army observe various philanthropic and humanitarian partnerships today.

Also a Drexel University Trustee, Sheller said, ?Anthony J. Drexel?s goal when he founded the University in 1891 was to empower young urban working class men and women to improve their station in life and with his tutelage and assistance his niece Katherine Drexel created a revolutionary network of schools for the disadvantaged and undeserved in our country.? The altruistic missions of Anthony J. Drexel and that of The Salvation Army founders was truly one in the same ? care, nurturing and opportunity for all people regardless of their gender, age, financial, ethnic, social or religious stations in life.

?The accomplishments of The Salvation Army in this country ? and especially in this region ? over the past 125 years are truly extraordinary,? said Lt. Col William Carlson, Divisional Commander, The Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. ?It?s impossible to track the number of lives that have been touched by The Salvation Army.?

In 2003, The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia visited more than 14,000 shut-ins and nursing home residents, secured nearly 80,000 new toys and stockings for children at Christmas, served more than one million meals to children and adults, and provided nearly 150,000 people with emergency assistance.

Link

If I'm not mistaken, the Salvation Army met their Red Kettle goal.

Bravo!

 

[joshw10]

I see nothing wrong with this.

If I go to stores its because I need to buy something, not because I want to be solicited to give donations. If I want to make a donation, I know where to do it.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: joshw10
I see nothing wrong with this.

If I go to stores its because I need to buy something, not because I want to be solicited to give donations. If I want to make a donation, I know where to do it.

So you've been solicited for money by someone manning a Red Kettle?