RKMBs Forums .::Important::. Politics and Current Events Don't Shop at Target

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wannabuyamonkey said:
So you harangue the bell ringers as to why you don't give to THEM all the while little do they know you don't give to anyone and probobly wouldn't give to them even if 90% of thier Soldiers were gay.

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Batwoman said:

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Chant said:
what? they don't sing in America?

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There are some that sing, others that play an instrument, depends on the person. I've always thought it would be fun to do that stand there with a couple friends and just sing.

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What kind of person do you think I am?

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I just resented being told by you that I have an obligation to donate to anybody. I do not.

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wannabuyamonkey said:
I realise that you're a tad more sensitive than I, and I try to accomdate that when responding to you, but it can get to the point of being rediculous. I want to better understand your stance on various issues as well as express mine, but as you may have noticed in my sig, i have X-BOX Live now so I don't want to spend my depleteing time here talking to people who are going to get offended and act like a resentfull jerk. i would like to make one suggestion (it is JUST a suggestion, so don't feel obligated) Every day stand infront of a mirror, preferably a full lenght mirror and say in a full voice "I am not a victim" You'll feel alot better.

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Bianca said:
The collections have already started . . . you'll see the bell-ringers out there in other places. So, not all is lost. At least we can hope that any way.

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If you think the holiday season brings more work and less pay at your job, take a look at Lebertus (Bert) van der Werff Sr.

For the past 14 years, van der Werff, a retired baker, has been in charge of organizing and coordinating the Salvation Army's kettle campaign in Auburn NY.


What it boils down to are 12-hour days most of the time, from the week before Thanksgiving through Christmas eve.

Of course, the volunteer effort "isn't really work when you know what you are doing it for," van der Werff said. "It isn't really work because you meet a lot of nice people. It is very gratifying when you see the end of it and give out food baskets."

Van der Werff makes sure the volunteer bell ringers are at their posts. He sets up and takes down the kettles.

"They asked me to help about 17 years ago and I just stayed with it. I enjoy it; you give back to the community," he said.

Van der Werff came to this country from the Netherlands in 1957 when he was 17. He lived in Liverpool until 1962, when he moved to Auburn. He worked in several area bakeries and retired from Harrison Bakery in Syracuse. He has been married to Betty van der Werff for 20 years. He has four children, three stepchildren, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Van der Werff also works with the Salvation Army's emergency disaster services. He cooks for senior citizens and in the soup kitchen. He is a member of the advisory board. All volunteer work.

The Christmas Kettle Campaign is the Salvation Army's biggest fund-raiser of the year. Much of the money goes for holiday food baskets, but some goes to the food pantry or is given to people in emergency situations, for necessities such as rent or medical care.

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URSA said:
We're gonna need another Timmy.

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TAMPA, Fla. Dec 2, 2004 — When Florida was reeling from one hurricane after another during the summer, the Salvation Army was a welcome sight for thousands of storm victims. But with the holidays here, the charity's bell-ringers and red kettles have been barred from Target stores.

Target decided earlier this year it could not permit Salvation Army bell ringers at any of its stores because doing so would be unfair to other charities wanting to solicit shoppers.

Now some shoppers are fuming that the nation's second-largest retailer would turn away a charity whose bell-ringers have long been a symbol of the holiday season.

"Target is this year's Ebenezer Scrooge," said Randy Sharp of the American Family Association, a Christian group which sent an e-mail this week to 2.3 million people urging them to shop elsewhere in protest of Target's policy. "They are the Grinch that stole Christmas for a lot of needy children."

Carolyn Brookter, a spokeswoman for Target, said the chain always had a "no solicitation" policy at its stores but made an exception for the Salvation Army. But Brookter said more and more groups have been asking for permission to collect money at Target, forcing the company to re-examine its relationship with the Salvation Army.

"The best way we thought to deal with this situation is to have a consistent policy," she said. "It absolutely was a difficult decision, it was not done lightly."

The Minneapolis-based chain had been the Salvation Army's second-most profitable collection point, accounting for nearly $9 million of the $93.8 million bell ringers raised nationwide in the 2003 holiday season. Wal-Mart, whose stores are the Salvation Army's most lucrative collection point, continues to allow the red-kettle collections along with Kmart.

The Salvation Army said Thursday it understands Target's position and knew in January about the new policy.

The retailer's decision is part of trend of shopping centers deciding against allowing the bell ringers because of requests for similar access by other groups, said Salvation Army spokeswoman Theresa Whitfield.

Other major retailers such as Toys "R" Us, Kohl's department stores and Barnes & Noble also don't allow bell ringers because of blanket no-solicitation policies.

"Anytime we lose a red kettle location we are disappointed," Whitfield said. "That includes not just Target, but other retailers. But it's also a privilege to raise funds, we don't lose sight of that."

Whitfield said that while the loss of Target is a concern, it likely wouldn't hurt the bell ringers' bottom-line. Contributions in the red kettles have been steadily increasing over recent years, and Whitfield said the furor over Target is actually prompting shoppers to be more generous when they do encounter a bell ringer, she said.

Target also has tried to make it up to the Salvation Army by offering to find other ways to help the charity, along with contributions it already makes through an online shopping program run by the charity.

At a Super Target in Miramar, Fla., Marina Hardin said Target is her favorite store, but she called a customer service number to protest its decision. Her brother in Texas, whose family is awaiting the birth of a child, have asked other family members not to buy gifts from a Target registry.

"I believe that the Salvation Army really helps people in need and it's always been a part of Christmas," said Hardin, a 45-year-old hotel worker.

But another shopper, Paulo Ramirez, said he was glad to see the bell ringers gone from the store.

"It's very bothersome to see them out front of the store," said the 65-year-old retiree. "It makes people feel that they have to give. There are other ways of donating."

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.