# Belk Dept Stores - aren't allowing Salvation Army Kettles this Christmas. Any opinions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 3, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451 "2017-12-03T15:53:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/1 "2017-12-03T15:53:06Z")
Fox is reporting this story with no explanation and typical outrage. It’s easily found. I don’t see a need to link to it. This thread isn’t about how Fox covers the news. I finally tracked down a more balanced article that explains Belk has a nationwide Habitat for Humanity campaign. It’s a good charity. I’ve worked construction on a few Habitat homes several years ago. I’m still not sure that justifies banning the Salvation Army Kettles. Christmas donations are their most important source of local revenue that funds many vital projects. A nationwide decision like this can potentially harm a lot of people. How do you feel about it? Why not support both? Allow the kettle outside the store like usual. Promote the Habitat for Humanity campaign more prominently inside the store at the cash registers? My family won’t be Christmas Shopping at Belks this year. We just don’t feel comfortable patronizing Belks stores this year. Salvation Army is one of my main charities. I respect the work they do. > **[One less Salvation Army red kettle this year in Waynesville](https://wlos.com/news/local/one-less-salvation-army-red-kettle-this-year-in-waynesville)** > > This time of year, people often show their generosity by giving to charities like the Salvation Army.Those familiar red kettles are out. But in Waynesville this year, there's one less outside a major store.In years past, you could financially help... This is just one example in one city. Belk is doing this at all their stores. > [@](#): > > Maj.David Cope, of the Waynesville Salvation Army, said that one kettle normally brought in thousands of dollars toward its $80,000 goal. He’s trusting people will find the kettles at other stores. I’m older now and it’s the younger men’s time to do that work. 😉 > > “It was $15,000 last year. In a small community as this, we can only make that up if those people will find one of the other red kettles and even sign up to ring the bell for us,” he said. > > He said that money feeds folks in need with more than just holiday food. > > “A great part of that revenue helps pay light bills, by fuel oil, pay their rent so they won’t become homeless,” Cope said. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/2 "2017-12-03T16:00:18Z")
Well I screwed up and typed into my quote. Edit window timed out before I could fix it. It’s just one sentence. You can ignore it. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/3 "2017-12-03T16:03:20Z")
Can’t people who want to donate to a charity now do it online? If you then say that having a kettlehandler standing outside is more likely to guilt you into giving, well you’ve just made an argument for why it is reasonable for the store to ban them–is it really in the store’s best interest to have an unrelated third party standing at their doorway trying to make customers feel that they have a social obligation to give money to the kettlehandler? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/4 "2017-12-03T16:10:16Z")
The Salvation Army, for all their good works, are openly and vehemently anti gay. And more people know it every day. There are more worthy charities. Good for Belks. Get used to it, you’re gonna see it more and more! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/5 "2017-12-03T16:15:13Z")
I see no reason to hold Belk to a special standard. Plenty of stores don’t allow the Salvation Army outside their doors. Salvation Army is the [#4 US Charity](https://www.forbes.com/top-charities/list/#tab:rank) so I’m pretty sure they’ll be OK. I’ll give them credit they are fairly good at money coming in going out to help people and their top compensations are not horrific in scope like some other huge charities. What stores will you be shopping at? Are they friendly to your causes? Are you like so many of us that shop at Amazon these days, because I know they don’t have anyone outside their doors. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/6 "2017-12-03T17:00:50Z")
I don’t like being hounded going in and out. I especially don’t like being hounded by charities who espouse values that I might not agree with. It makes me feel like I’m quick walking an obstacle course to get inside. If I had Belk here, I might be inclined to give them more business for making shopping a more comfortable experience for me. (What a strange concept!) ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/7 "2017-12-03T17:11:19Z")
I’m firmly in the fuck those homophobic bastards camp. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/8 "2017-12-03T17:48:09Z")
In this day and age, there’s no excuse for the S.A.'s deep-seated homophobia. They’ve been challenged several times over the years, yet they remain unmoved. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/9 "2017-12-03T17:57:27Z")
I’ve lived in about 20 different cities and have never seen a Belk store. At this time of year, I see SA bell ringers all over the place. I don’t think SA will be hurt much by Belk’s decision, and I think Belk has a right to restrict their support to the charities of their choice. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/10 "2017-12-03T18:10:24Z")
I have never been at a Belk. But if they do their own charity fundraising at the register (like many places do), then I can totally understand why they wouldn’t want another charity potentially sapping away at their customers’ generosity. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@Troy\_McClure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/11 "2017-12-03T18:17:36Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > The Salvation Army, for all their good works, are openly and vehemently anti gay. And more people know it every day. > > There are more worthy charities. Good for Belks. > > Get used to it, you’re gonna see it more and more! They also only allow organization officers to marry other organization officers. Break the rule and out you go. Creepy eh? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/12 "2017-12-03T18:24:42Z")
I just hate the sound of that damned endless bell ringing. Give it a doggone rest! But, yeah, their homophobia has cut off any possibility of my support. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/13 "2017-12-03T18:29:01Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > My family won’t be Christmas Shopping at Belks this year. We just don’t feel comfortable patronizing Belks stores this year. Salvation Army is one of my main charities. I respect the work they do. So you, and anyone who wants to support them, can go on-line and donate, or find another kettle. I never have cash and so I have to guiltily creep by, even though I have standing donations given electronically. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/14 "2017-12-03T18:29:35Z")
I had never heard of this so-called “national department store chain” before reading this thread (according to Wikipedia, Belk is in 16 states). Personally, I’ve had enough of this homophobic organization and their guys in mangy Santa costumes monotonously ringing bells in front of every fucking store for the whole fucking month. Good on Belk for saying no to them. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/15 "2017-12-03T18:48:38Z")
Another vote for SA to go fuck themselves. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/16 "2017-12-03T18:53:46Z")
The Salvation Army does a lot of good in the community. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be a financial supporter. Just one example is their Angel Tree that provides needy kids presents on Christmas. I have participated for over 15 years. Pick up a tag with the items requested. You buy the items on the list, drop them off, and they go directly to the family. Here in my city a thousand families’ children will have a Christmas this year because of the Salvation Army. SA feeds the homeless. They have so many wonderful programs in the local community. I’m not concerned about politics when they are providing such needed services. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/17 "2017-12-03T18:54:38Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Another vote for SA to go fuck themselves. Since they (supposedly) only recently allow marriage outside of the SA, they’re been doing that for decades. From a certain point of view. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/18 "2017-12-03T18:56:45Z")
I think the reasonable question is to ask what Belk is doing in total in charitable activities and how it compares with its competitors–not look at one specific charity and one specific type of support. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/19 "2017-12-03T19:00:25Z")
Target has not allowed bell ringers outside their stores since 2004. It was controversial at first, but AFAIK most people are OK with it. > **[Did Target Stores Ban Salvation Army Bellringers?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sally-ann-ban/)** > > Has Target banned Salvation Army bellringers from its premises? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451/20 "2017-12-03T19:01:30Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m not concerned about politics when they are providing such needed services. Bigotry is not politics, it’s assholery. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belk-dept-stores-arent-allowing-salvation-army-kettles-this-christmas-any-opinions/803451.md?page=2)