Wow. And this one is not snark, like my last one earlier today
Toys for Tots collection boxes traditionally are placed in lobbies of retail stores, office buildings, fast-food restaurants and banks. But sometimes businesses will opt out of the program, which doesn't normally upset the charity's West Pasco coordinator.
That is unless the businesses denying their lobby space happen to be branches of big corporate banks, said West Pasco Toys for Tots coordinator John Durkin. He was referring to TD Bank and Wells Fargo, which recently nixed collection boxes in their lobbies.
The banks said they are big supporters of charities in whatever community they do business. TD Bank officials said there is a meeting set up later this week to talk about the issue with Toys for Tots officials to try to reach a resolution.
"I certainly respect people's right to support or not support a cause," he said. What irked Durkin about the banks was that, "We unceremoniously were told to get the boxes out."
http://www2.tbo.com/...
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L. Hendricks.[1]
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, a 501 charity located in Triangle, Virginia, serves to fund, raise funds for, and support the program. Their website is http://www.toysfortots.org/
This was not a problem last year since the particular banks around Tampa Bay (and the rest of Florida) were the Mercantile Bank and Wachovia, both since taken over by the new, less charitable. uber-corporate banks. Used to be bankers were members of the community. Here's just one more reason to MOVE YOUR MONEY...but if you are a customer or a non-customer wishing to express your opinion on this situation, fire away:
TD Bank
Two Portland Square
P.O. Box 9540
Portland, Maine 04112-9540
800-462-3666
TD Bank
1701 Route 70 East
Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08034
888-751-9000
Rebecca Acevedo
Public Relations Manager
856-470-3201
rebecca.acevedo@td.com
Wells Fargo is headquartered in San Francisco, with the address of 420 Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA 94163. Their phone number is (866) 878-5865.
