MASON CITY – In what may be another in a growing list of decisions that are irking would-be shoppers and patrons, Southbridge Mall management has apparently decided that the very soothing and holiday-themed sound of the Salvation Army Kettle Bell is not wanted this season.
A call this morning to the Salvation Army in Mason City confirmed that the Salvation Army kettle ringers will be taking donations at places like Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Walgreen’s, Shopko, Hy-Vee East and West, Fareway in Clear Lake and Mason City… but not Southbridge Mall.
“Right now we were informed we won’t be able to do that,” a person at the Salvation Army told NIT Thursday morning. “They are under new management and they said we can’t come there. We hope that will change.”
The Mason City Kennel Club, volunteer kettle ringers, also verified that they were told that they won’t be ringing the kettle at Southbridge Mall.
“After many years of a wonderful contribution on the part of the Southbridge Mall in Mason City allowing the volunteers for the Salvation Army Kettle Drive to come inside out of the elements to ring the bell, the new owners and new manager are no longer allowing this,” a Kennel Club member said Wednesday evening.
“Members of the Mason City Kennel Club who had volunteered to man the kettle in December were recently notified that our day of participation has been cancelled due to the new mall manager not allowing the Kettle Drive to take place inside the mall.”
The Kettle Club member went on to say:
“I placed a call to the management office to verify this rumor. The manager (an arrogant ass) returned my call and I asked him why, after years of the Southbridge Mall contributing to the Salvation Army Kettle Drive’s cause by allowing volunteers to be inside the mall while ringing the bell, would he not allow this tradition to continue. After being taken aback by my question, he informed me that he would allow the volunteers to ring the bell but they must remain outside the mall or in the vestibule. I suggested that the ball inside the bell be replaced with a paperclip as in previous years in order to cut down on noise. He said that he would ‘take this into consideration.'”
A call to Southbridge Mall manager TJ Just was answered, and he said NIT has it all wrong.
“That is not true,” Just said, sounding somewhat agitated. “We are working with the Salvation Army.”
“What’s there to work on, TJ?” NIT Publisher Matt Marquardt asked. “The kettle ringers have been in the mall for years.”
“Is there anything else?” Just asked.
Anyone wishing to contact the mall to issue a complaint can call 641-423-6688 and ask for TJ Just, Southbridge Mall Manager.
The SA is perhaps the most charitable religious organization of all time and I generously support them during the Christmas Season and donating to special needs throughout the year. That being said, The Mall Association is a private entity and has every right to determine who and who can’t “solicit” on their property. If they allow the SA in there, what next…some fringe group out of mainstream middle America promoting their cause. The mall would be hard pressed to tell them no. Just saying….
As you open your pockets for the next natural disaster, please keep these facts in mind:
The American Red Cross President & CEO’s salary for the year was $651,957 + expenses.
The United Way President receives a $375,000 annual salary + expenses and benefits. Did you know United Way donates money to illegals?
UNICEF CEO receives $1,200,000 per year (that’s 100k per month) + expenses (including a ROLLS ROYCE company car).
This means that less than 5 cents of our donated dollar actually goes to theses causes!
The Salvation Army Commissioner receives a salary of only $13,000 + housing for managing a $2 billion dollar organization.
96% of our donation goes to the Salvation Army.
The American Legion National Commander receives a $0.00 (zero) salary.
100% of our donation goes directly to help Veterans and their families and youth!
Sincerely,
Bobi Bigelow
Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations
– See more at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2307980/charity-where-does-your-donation-go-#sthash.Cv0VdqmT.fhEbU3Bk.dpuf
http://activerain.com/blogsview/2307980/charity-where-does-your-donation-go
Wow I think the manager should ring the BELL.Although I can seeing him not thinking it through before he spoke.Just like people commenting on this very important issue.I a person that grew up in Mason City can’t see the fision they had when they developed the Mall.Our nickname River Cityshould of been the thym of such a big important part of such a big project.We should see the new manager has a big job to do.Like unfix a wrong.Just SAYING……….
The real issue here is the limitations to who may volunteer to be a bell ringer. The mall used to be the one indoor location where people who may be unable to stand out in the cold could still participate and play a part. I started taking my daughter to ring the bell when she was 9 months old, and we loved sitting in the mall, as do other families with young children. Many elderly people also do not do well in cold air, even the entrance of a store. With so few businesses and traffic even in the mall, it’s not like the bell ringers were somehow in the way. I guess it’s just one more example of Mason City completely disregarding those people who could actually make a difference in this dying town.
screw the mall it sucks antway
Target is “unbiased and awesome”? That is a joke! They don’t even give their employees a Christmas gift after forcing all of them to work long hours from black Friday until Christmas. If you don’t work when they say — you are fired. They are just as greedy as all the other “box” stores.
Southbridge is a joke
The Salvation Army lied. The mall manager did not say they couldn’t put a kettle at the mall. Just that they couldn’t be inside. The SA said they couldn’t be there at all. An out and out bold faced lie, and NIT latched onto it. Matt, please be more objective in your reporting and leave the emotion out of it. To the kettle club member who called the mall manager “an arrogant ass”. Just want to tell you I won’t be putting any more money in your bell ringer’s kettles. And if I were a store owner, you wouldn’t be putting a kettle outside my business either. To the best of my knowledge, Salvation Army does not have the “right” to put their kettles anyplace but their own property. Anywhere else is a privilege from the owner of the area you wish to be on, and to insult owners/managers simply because they don’t believe you’re the god-like figure you think you are is sheer hypocrisy.
It’s target corporate policy. The Salvation Army is a religious orginization. Being that Target is an unbiased awesome company they chose to decline. Nothing wrong with it, if you want companies to help you out, don’t promote hate.
I hope all of you boycott Target also. They threw the bell ringers out years ago.
I think a call to the individual stores in the mall would be better. If the stores received a ton of calls letting them know that we won’t shop there because of this, maybe they’d talk to management. Just letting management know our feelings won’t get us anywhere. I’m going to call each of the stores I WOULD HAVE shopped in and let them know WHY I won’t be back this season.
This is sad – It is not only about the Salvation Army Kettle Drive it is about carry or people and being courteous. The manager maybe needs a course in public relations.
There having craft shows and indoor farmers market at willow brooke mall sounds like southbridge didn’t want them there.
when I worked at the mall back in 2000…the rumor then was that in 2013 to 2015 that penny’s and younkers were moveing out because there contracts were up then and they were moveing out to the best buy area.
Didn’t the salvation army recently say that gays should be put to death?
http://tgvnews.com/2013/06/salvation-army-says-gays-need-to-be-put-to-death/
You basically just shot yourself in the foot! NEVER going in there again!
If they do not want to support the public we should not support the mall. I have heard that Penny’s in in bankruptsy and if they go the only anchor store will be Yonkers. It just seem like that will not be enough of a draw to keep the mall open. Tear it down or turn it into a casino. A casino would be a good draw for the rest ot the downtown area. I really can’t see them tearing it down. That would cost a fortune.
Salvation army kettle ringers are the LEAST harassing charity drives around. There is no possible worry for having them there.
Southbridge mall stores, sorry your management is rediculous ill be shopping online this year.
And Mr. Just wonders why the mall is a barren wasteland of empty storefronts and mall walkers who don’t buy anything.