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Wal-Mart manager bans veterans groups from fundraising at store

By Barbara Czura - bio | email
Posted by Dana Franks - email

ARAB, AL (WAFF) - Veterans organizations are fired up after a Wal-Mart manager banned solicitors or fundraisers at his store. They're not upset about the change of policy, but because the manager's allowing another organization to still raise money.

The Disabled American Veterans were allowed to raise money on Memorial Day, but when they asked to come back for another fundraiser a few weeks later, the manager's policy had changed.

DAV post commander Bill Brennan, Walt Dempster, and Steve Shaver are all members of veterans organizations in Arab. Each organization raises money throughout the year and all proceeds goes toward disabled veterans and their families.

In years past, Brennan said they've always been welcome at the Wal-Mart in Arab, but not anymore.

"He told us he's getting a lot of complaints for solicitations out in front of the stores from customers," Brennan said.

"It doesn't seem right to me to do mass punishment, because some group stood there and grabbed you and said, 'I want money,'" Dempster said. "Okay, I wouldn't appreciate that either.

Post commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6226 Dempster said due to a few complaints, all solicitors are being banned from the store.

"The way I understand the word solicit means you're asking for something," he said. "When we're out there, I hand you [a flyer], just like that. Did I ask for any money? No. Now if you want to make a donation, will I accept it for the VFW, yes.

A two-day fundraiser in a busy place like Wal-Mart usually raises about $1,800, Brennan said.

"The money is quite important to us, we can't operate without it," he said.

But Dempster said the Wal-Mart manager is making some exceptions. He said it's corporate policy for every Wal-Mart Mart to support the Salvation Army. So come Christmas, one group will be allowed while the others aren't.

WAFF 48 News contacted the manager of the store and asked for an on-camera interview, but he declined.

"I don't feel that you can allow one organization regardless of who they are, to do something and not the others," Dempster said.

In the past two days, WAFF 48 News has left several messages with Wal-Mart's corporate office, but the calls were not returned. However, it has been learned that each store's manager can determine the individual store policy.

As for the veterans organizations, they were given permission by the manager of Wal-Mart in Guntersville and will be out in November accepting donations for Veterans Day.

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