		The Information you need!
		Search Archive:
	Login \| Contact Us \| Site Map \| Archives \| Photos \| Alerts Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Entertainment

Print this story | Email this story |

Comment (8 comment(s)) |

Rate |

Text Size

Walmart reverses Angel Tree stance

By Jeff Haldiman jhaldiman@newstribune.com

Published: Thursday, November 26, 2009 6:12 AM CST

"I think this is what the community wants, and good traditions are hard to break." That was the feeling Wednesday of Maj. Kendall Matthews after the army was allowed to put up its Angel Tree at the Walmart on West Stadium Boulevard in Jefferson City.

Walmart corporate officials had made a decision to not set up the trees, from which community members take a tag that lists the wishes of a child in need.

"It's unfortunate it came to this, but this is the power of community pressure," Matthews said after putting the tree up himself. "I talked with the store manager who said it was corporate and not the local management that made this decision. I appreciate their position because corporate folks don't think about how it affects communities."

Matthews said there are 250 tags on the tree, and they would have had to fill them some other way if they didn't have the tree up. He added that 10 different groups, in addition to Walmart now, have reversed their decisions and are allowing Angel Trees to be put up.

Matthews said the tree will be up until all the tags are taken.

Officials at Walmart's corporate offices in Bentonville, Ark., could not be reached for comment in time for this story.


Building outlook good in Mid-Missouri		Pastor: Pilgrims' sacrifices still bless, inspire us today

Article Rating

Before commenting read the News Tribune Forum's policies and procedures.
Thanks.

overqualified wrote on Dec 2, 2009 2:30 PM:

" Giving to this program is very easy. I did it all from my office via the internet. Go to jcpenny's website and choose your 'angel'. I bought the clothes the kid needed from jcpenny.com, and thanks to this article I bought his toys and books from walmart.com (broke my own rule about shopping there). jcpenny.com provides you with an ID for your 'angel', so you can ship directly to the Salvation Army. Awesome! Anyway, way to go Wally World. You were shamed into it, but hey, some kids will have some presents under the tree this year, and we can thank Wal-Mart for some of that. And that's really all that matters. "

Report Abuse

boscoe wrote on Nov 29, 2009 1:49 PM:

" I say that people need to quit being dependent on Wal-Mart or Target or whomever to be responsible for guilting you into making a donation. If you want to give, then go down to Salvation Army and give.

I go to the store to shop, not to be attacked by beggars wanting money for their pet charity. "

Report Abuse

watching2 wrote on Nov 27, 2009 9:53 PM:

" Busymom..
You don't have to tell me how those so called mngrs at that store are, My comments should tell you I was once and never again a employee there, I know all to well how the Mngrs (don't) work. "

Report Abuse

misshoneybee wrote on Nov 27, 2009 3:16 PM:

" I say, insist that ALL those major store chains in the area put up an Angel Tree. And those same stores ought to provide gifts for over HALF the tags hanging on them. It's not as if they (the stores) can't afford it! "

Report Abuse

Busymom wrote on Nov 27, 2009 2:15 PM:

" My question is why isn't anyone upset at Kohl's or Target for not putting up an Angel Tree at any time? Don't get me wrong, I am in agreement that Wal-Mart should keep up with their tradition of having an Angel Tree and am also pretty upset that the manager of Stadium Wal-Mart had the store's phone operator field the calls from angry callers instead of a "manning up" and taking the calls himself. He was just "too busy" to handle that. Also don't let the article fool you on the fact that it was a Bentonville decision and not a local decision, that was a false statement also. "

Report Abuse

watching2 wrote on Nov 27, 2009 8:58 AM:

" Stupid walmart..Thank you misshoney!!! , I myself sent some emails!

Good ole dumbmart and their bassackwards ways of thinking, This wasn't no shock to me the nimrods. Almost like the city thinking of new Laws huh?? ..Sit back scratch your head and rear end and then they get a thought on somthing "new" ..I know lets Take down that Angel tree.. "

Report Abuse

misshoneybee wrote on Nov 26, 2009 8:26 PM:

" I sent the powers-that-be at WallyWorld a VERY nasty email concerning this. Evidently, it must have helped. "

Report Abuse

bluenurse wrote on Nov 26, 2009 4:37 PM:

" YAY!!!!!!!! Lots of little kids will be happer come Xmas morning.

Kudos to all of you who spoke out about this!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody, from bluenurse. "

Report Abuse

To add your comments you must be registered and logged in

*Member ID:
*Password:

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

*Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
*E-mail Address:
*Year of Birth:
	(children under 13 cannot register)
*First Name:
*Last Name:
Company:
*Home Phone:
Business Phone:
*Address:
*City:
*State:
*Zip Code:

Return to: News Local « | Home « | Top of Page ^

Online Poll