So, I just learned that Target isn't allowing the Salvation Army to have bell ringers outside their stores. And that means the Sal Army will probably not raise the $9 million it raised at Target stores last year. Disappointing. I have personal weekly contact with the Athens Sal Army, and I give them 5 stars. They are smart, caring, hard-working people, and it disappoints me greatly that Target has decided to give them the shaft. I'm not doing any shopping at Target this year as a result, and I encourage you to do the same. Spiffy ad campaigns be damned. Give money to the Salvation Army. I like them.
In other news, here are three places that if you have extra money, I hope you can give to:
Good Works, Inc Athens' own poverty fightin', poor lovin' machine.
International Justice Mission Global combatant against the international sex trade of young girls and other forced-labor slaves in our beautiful modern world.
World Vision International Helping poor communities become self-sustaining and well-fed across the globe.
6 comments:
I heard about this too. They're so stupid. Did they even give a reason why? Because, whatever it is, I'm sure it's not worth all the bad publicity they're bound to get.
It would be interesting why Target decided to stop doing that... maybe there was a good reason? I know they give a certain percentage of their income to orgs. like Sal. Army. Anyone know the reason?
Here's the reason: Target has long had a policy of not allowing solicitors outside their stores, but the Salvation Army has long been the ONLY exception to that policy. They decided, preemptively, to disallow the SA from soliciting this year, just in case some other organizations try to horn in on that sweet Christmas action. Personally, I think they didn't want their shoppers to be reminded of the least fortunate while they were in the throes of materialistic frenzy. More for me and mine! They should have worked harder like I did!
Chris says:
when you titled it "poop on target" it made me thing of when gold leader is flying down the trench of the death star and he keeps saying "stay on target." Haha, a very different movie.
OMG, Chris! I thought THE EXACT SAME THING. But I wasn't going to say anything because I figured everyone else would think it was a bit of a stretch.
Jessi says...I wrote to Target about this issue and here is their reply to me: Subject: The Salvation Army
Dear Jessi,
Like many nationwide retailers, Target Corporation has a long-standing "no
solicitation" policy that it consistently applies to all organizations
across all of its stores.
We receive an increasing numberof solicitation inquiries from non-profit
organizations and other groups each year and determined that if we continue
to allow the Salvation Army to solicit then it opens the door to any other
groups that wish to solicit our guests. While some of our guests may
welcome the opportunity to support their favorite charity or cause,
allowing these organizations to solicit means that Target would also have
to permit solicitation by organizations whose cause or behavior may be
unacceptable to our guests.
We notified the Salvation Army of our decision in January 2004, well in
advance of the holiday season, so the organization would have time to find
alternative fundraising sources. Target also asked the Salvation Army to
look at other ways that we could support their organization under our
corporate giving guidelines. To this date they have not provided a proposal
that fits those guidelines.
Local Salvation Army chapters can apply for grants through their local
Target stores. For decades, many non-profit organizations across the
country have successfully worked with Target in this manner. We are asking
the Salvation Army to work with us in the same exact manner as the other
groups and organizations who ask to solicit our guests.
This decision in no way diminishes Target Corporation's commitment to its
communities. Target has one of the largest corporate philanthropy programs
in America, donating more than $2 million per week and hundreds of
thousands of volunteer hours each year to the communities in which it does
business.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hanson
Target Executive Offices
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