Shoppers label Target 'Scrooge'

TAMPA, Fla. - 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.

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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 that 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 Ms. 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, as do Kmart stores.

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

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

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," Ms. 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."

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

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.