*Pleasant Tomorrow*
11-08-2004, 07:26 PM
Target cuts the cord on Salvation Army kettles
By BENITA D. NEWTON , The Virginian-Pilot
© October 20, 2004 | Last updated 1:59 PM Oct. 20
The familiar holiday tune of jingling bells and clinking change dropping into Salvation Army kettles won’t be heard this year outside local Target Stores, forcing area commands to look for ways to make up potential lost revenue.
The Minneapolis-based retail giant will no longer allow the Christian charity’s bellringers to collect donations outside its 1,300 stores across the country, citing a need for fairness in its policy that restricts solicitations. Based on last year’s figures, the Target shutout could leave local Salvation Army groups with a $85,000 hole.
About 13 percent of the more than $661,000 in donations that Hampton Roads and Williamsburg Red Kettle bellringers collected in 2003 was received at area Target stores. The Tidewater Area Command, which represents Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, raised $49,000 with its Target kettles last year, nearly a quarter of its $221,000 total, said its spokeswoman Grace Ramos.
The Army uses the money that shoppers deposit in its trademark red kettles to buy Christmas meals and gifts for children, the elderly and the incarcerated, and to fund its food, clothing, shelter, and financial assistance programs throughout the winter months. The Red Kettle program has been in place in Norfolk since 1905.
Ramos said the group hopes that one day Target will allow its bellringers to return to its stores.
“We understand Target’s policy, and we’re happy we were able to do bell ringing there for so many years,” Ramos said. “...We continue to be grateful to Target and its patrons in our community for making a difference in countless lives over the years.”
Target officials said the corporation could no longer continue to make an exception for the Salvation Army and deny other organizations the opportunity.
“We receive an increasing number of solicitation inquiries from nonprofit organizations each year and determined that if we allow the Salvation Army to solicit, then it opens the door to other groups that wish to solicit our guests,” a Target spokesperson said in a written statement. “This decision does not diminish Target Corp.’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.”
The Army will begin its Red Kettle campaign by Nov. 12, and already has more than 120 area malls, grocery stores and retailers signed up.
Popular holiday shopping destinations such as Farm Fresh, Big Lots, ABC Stores and Sam’s Club are still onboard to keep the bells ringing.
Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman said the big-box retailer’s solicitation policy limits the number of hours and days per year that nonprofits can ask for donations outside its stores, which allows it to give a variety of groups a chance to participate.
“The Salvation Army takes in somewhere around $12 million in front of our stores every year,” Fogleman said. “They’ve become a holiday fixture outside our stores, and we’re very pleased with our partnership with them.”
The commands plan to offset the potential shortfall by increasing its locations and focusing on getting 100 percent volunteer participation, rather than paying people to ring the bells. Ramos said throughout Hampton Roads the commands will need more than 1,450 volunteers this year, almost 500 more than in 2003.
While the situation is challenging, Ramos is confident the community’s support will help the Salvation Army continue to meet it goals.
“The Red Kettle program is a timeless program,” Ramos said, “a tradition that will continue for years to come.”
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=76970&ran=131915
By BENITA D. NEWTON , The Virginian-Pilot
© October 20, 2004 | Last updated 1:59 PM Oct. 20
The familiar holiday tune of jingling bells and clinking change dropping into Salvation Army kettles won’t be heard this year outside local Target Stores, forcing area commands to look for ways to make up potential lost revenue.
The Minneapolis-based retail giant will no longer allow the Christian charity’s bellringers to collect donations outside its 1,300 stores across the country, citing a need for fairness in its policy that restricts solicitations. Based on last year’s figures, the Target shutout could leave local Salvation Army groups with a $85,000 hole.
About 13 percent of the more than $661,000 in donations that Hampton Roads and Williamsburg Red Kettle bellringers collected in 2003 was received at area Target stores. The Tidewater Area Command, which represents Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, raised $49,000 with its Target kettles last year, nearly a quarter of its $221,000 total, said its spokeswoman Grace Ramos.
The Army uses the money that shoppers deposit in its trademark red kettles to buy Christmas meals and gifts for children, the elderly and the incarcerated, and to fund its food, clothing, shelter, and financial assistance programs throughout the winter months. The Red Kettle program has been in place in Norfolk since 1905.
Ramos said the group hopes that one day Target will allow its bellringers to return to its stores.
“We understand Target’s policy, and we’re happy we were able to do bell ringing there for so many years,” Ramos said. “...We continue to be grateful to Target and its patrons in our community for making a difference in countless lives over the years.”
Target officials said the corporation could no longer continue to make an exception for the Salvation Army and deny other organizations the opportunity.
“We receive an increasing number of solicitation inquiries from nonprofit organizations each year and determined that if we allow the Salvation Army to solicit, then it opens the door to other groups that wish to solicit our guests,” a Target spokesperson said in a written statement. “This decision does not diminish Target Corp.’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.”
The Army will begin its Red Kettle campaign by Nov. 12, and already has more than 120 area malls, grocery stores and retailers signed up.
Popular holiday shopping destinations such as Farm Fresh, Big Lots, ABC Stores and Sam’s Club are still onboard to keep the bells ringing.
Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman said the big-box retailer’s solicitation policy limits the number of hours and days per year that nonprofits can ask for donations outside its stores, which allows it to give a variety of groups a chance to participate.
“The Salvation Army takes in somewhere around $12 million in front of our stores every year,” Fogleman said. “They’ve become a holiday fixture outside our stores, and we’re very pleased with our partnership with them.”
The commands plan to offset the potential shortfall by increasing its locations and focusing on getting 100 percent volunteer participation, rather than paying people to ring the bells. Ramos said throughout Hampton Roads the commands will need more than 1,450 volunteers this year, almost 500 more than in 2003.
While the situation is challenging, Ramos is confident the community’s support will help the Salvation Army continue to meet it goals.
“The Red Kettle program is a timeless program,” Ramos said, “a tradition that will continue for years to come.”
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=76970&ran=131915