I just watched a story on CBN that said Target stores will no longer allow the salvation army bell ringers outside their doors! I know to some it my be annoying but it's a precious memory from way back, one of the sounds of Christmas. I personally was really upset about it as I know a lot of people were. I never mind putting in a dollar or two after shopping or before I go in. now that I have kids I give them the money to put in the buket it's teaching them to give! my personal opinion Target should change their color from red to green! We could call them the Grinch who stole Christmas. I'll be rethinking the places I spend money the rest of the season.

It's true about Target. I saw the very same show this am(my favorite!) Anyway, I wrote target an e-mail & they said IT'S TRUE! Although they couldn't(or Wouldn't) give me a reason. I just told them that as far as I was concerned, TARGET NO LONGER EXISTED PERIOD! I further stated that I would make sure that EVERYONE I KNOW, relatives, friends, everyone, would be told, BY YOURS TRULY! I advised them that The Salvation Army has done more for people then they could ever hope to do, that The Salvation Army has been a BIG Part of American's Celebration of Christmas before Target was ever though of! Further, ALL the other stores would benefit from their stupidity! Glad you picked up on this!

I send them an e-mail too. I bet they are flooded with e-mails from all over the place. I try to watch the 700 club every day that it's on. I'm usually going in and out doing house work or I take that time to post and watch tv at the same time lol! they better think about what happened to KMart they ticked off people all over the place and their ship sunk. we had a nice Kmart here but no one would go there very large parking lot but hardly ever any cars in it. finally it closed back last year and now we have a vacant building.

Kmart & Sears Just Merged...

A friend of mine works there and she said she was shocked at the kind of people they were hiring for this job. A lot of them were alcoholics or drug addics. A few of them were even parolles for theft and she said the worse was a convicted child molester. They try to give these people second chances and it ends up hurting them. My mom and I even saw the one guy calling people really nasty names for not putting in money. I personally don't put anything in because like a lot of other people I know it is volunteerely taken out of our checks. Its not Targets fault although the media plays it that way. I alwasy dread walking past those people they give me the creaps. So dont be so harsh on Target, plus a lot of other stores are thinking about it as well. They just need to develop a better system or hire better quality people. Its really the Salvation army hurting itself. Plus they pay below minimum wage for those positions too so regular people don't really want them.

The Salvation Army, do alot of great things, all through out the year. As far as who they hire...Target hires alot of "socialably Unacceptable" people too. As do the other stores. I can't think of anything more mind boggling than to think about all the child molesters slipping thru the cracks & working at a store in the try-on dressing rooms! I've even seen them(I recognized them) working as "Store Santas!" I remember smelling booze on an aweful lot of Store Santas too. Think About that one! Also, Christmas is a time for giving, Salvation Army depends on the kettle money for it's budget for the homeless, etc. Hubby gives at work, we give at Church & I give to CBN/700 club too. (I find it exciting) to think that a villege way off somewhere now has a well for the first time ever, or a child has an operation that was life-saving! But I can remember when I was a lil girl, not much more than a tot, coming out of Sears & Roebucks in Chicago & hearing the bell! I remember how Mom said that if I put the coins that she gave me, into the red bucket, children could have a wonderful Christmas too. THAT's what Christmas is all about, the GIVING! SO Target has made a decision, it would have been much better if they would have decided this before the start of the Holiday Shopping Season. I'm asking my friends & relatives to double what they would put in the buckets & Make a comment to the store clerks, that they are shopping at their stores, instead of Target stores this year! The reason, why Target is banning Salvation Army, kinda shows their "Attitudes" about Charities anyway! It's not because of customers not liking it, or unsavory bell-ringers. If it wasn't for Christmas, the retailers in this country would be in deep trouble. I personally know of alot of folks that won't be shopping at Target this year!

I've never seen anyone ringing the bell that looked too bad around here. granted our City may be a little smaller. I don't know what they could do if they are having a hard time with creeps ringing the bell. maybe set up another area to donate. or set up little red boxes or can thing at the registers. nothing tacky looking but then when they people get their change they could give if they wanted too.
I think more then anything it's improtant to me that my kids learn to give. they don't learn that by me just saying well it's already taken out of our paychecks so we don't need to.
My family loves to give We don't have much but some how we have plenty,and when we don't have money we give time. My Aunt says thats why God has blesses my huband and I. The bell ringers are where I first learned to give I'm almost certain. it's a decision I made a long time ago and I've had it returned over an over we're teaching our kids that you can never give too much but you can give too little.

I saw on the news where they have these blue bins to drop off clothes for the needy was taken up here, I never heard why or what the scandel was all about, but I do agree with you both Melanie and Rosemary , Salvation Army and Target do both hire unacceptable people for the jobs.

When I was young--eons ago--The Salvation Army bell ringers were as much a part of my Christmas as the tree, lights, etc. Back then they actually were the real army and work those dark blue uniforms, hats, etc. I always put in a dime or something (which was a lot of money to me back in the mid 50's).

We had an article in our paper Thursday morning that the army is not taking in the money it use to and part of the problem is the debit cards. People don't carry cash, and many don't even carry a check book and those that do don't want to take the time to stand outside a store and wirte a check. That night my son and I were at Hobby Lobby and I stopped and wrote a check and put it in the pot outside the store.

One thing I can tell you, my hubby will not give to the red cross. When he was in the Navy up in Newport RI back in early 60's, he got stranded on his way home to Texas and I don't remember just how, but he lost his money. The red cross wouldn't help at all, but the Salvation Army got him home--he was 18 years old.

Wow I thats crazy they should have helped him. Well my reason now for giving to the salvation army is a long one. it's not just about Christmas. I have a biological father who I have not seen since I was 7, my children know nothing of him they only know the father I have now. anyway this man was on drugs hooked apparently. I called about 8 years ago and talked to his parents needless to say I didn't tell them who I was as they want nothing to do with me. I just told them I was an old friend trying to get a hold of him. His mother told me she has no clue where he is and his life was still messed up. I'm pretty sure the guy is living on the streets now. yes he's probably doing drugs and drinking but I would atleast want to think that because of the money I dropped in the bucket maybe he got a hot meal on Christmas.

They had this subject back on the news tonight.

I don't like the Salvation Army (please don't yell at me!)

Up here they have "clauses" if you want to be employed there, like no drinking, no gambling, and you have to be a "christian." Because it's a "charity" they can get away with discrimination . I also heard the big wigs that run it live down in the Carribean or something on yachts...how nice.

I wish they would do something about them hanging around shopping areas up here, but I mostly just tune them out anyway...

no they don't have to be Christian around here I don't think. if you ask me making that a requirement for any job other than being a preacher or something is kind of pointless. many people were raised in Christian homes but dont' live that life anyway, then if they are asked what religion they claim christianity. I agree no one should make someone willing to do a service be a certain religion .
I'm a Christian but don't tell many people flat out. reason is there are a lot of Christians who are all high and mighty and actually hurt others and don't show them any love, thinking their way is the only or the best. ehhh don't get me started on stuff like that lol.

There was an article in our paper a while about about what percent of donated money to different charaties ACTUALLY goes to that charity and how much goes to "other things", like paying for presidents, etc. The Salvation Army had one of the highest percentages of money going directly to the "people in need" and less to presidents, advertising, "costs" etc. Red Cross didn't score as well. Their head honcho makes about 5 times what the head person for Salvation Army makes. Once when hubby was coming home on leave from NewPort RI to Texas, his wallet was lost, no money. Red Cross refused to help him get home, but Salvation army did. My Dad once said the Red Cross was selling cigarettes to the soldiers, sailors, etc during WWII that the cigarette companies had DONATED to be GIVE, not sold. He would always give to Salvation Army, but not Red Cross.