Kettle Bells to Go Silent this Season at Martin's

By Amber Lester Friday, March 05, 2010

Shoppers will no longer hear the familiar ringing of Salvation Army bells in front of Ukrop’s, now a Martin's, due to a no-solicitation store policy.

The Ukrop’s grocery store on Monticello Ave. was sold in December when Ahold USA bought the Richmond-based chain for about $140 million. The store will become a Martin's grocery store in the spring and will adopt the chain’s policy not allowing solicitation.

Martin's does not allow sidewalk vending at any of its stores, according to Ahold USA spokesperson Tracy Pawelski. “Our customers have voiced that they would prefer to shop in our stores without being solicited by other organizations, and we have listened to and respected their wishes,” she said.

As a result, the Salvation Army of Williamsburg will no longer be able to place bell-ringers in front of the store to raise funds during the holidays. Last year, the Salvation Army raised just under $20,000 at Ukrop’s during the kettle season. Its entire bell-ringing campaign raised $100,000 and was down nearly 30 percent from the previous year, according to Captain Debbie Bowers.

“Our official position is that although the inability to place kettles at the locations will decrease our overall Christmas income, we understand Martin's policy and will gladly comply,” Bowers said in an e-mail.

She pledged to find new retail outlets and funding sources to make up for the loss, adding that MARTIN’S is “quite community oriented and they vow to find other ways to support the Army throughout the year.”

Pawelski said Martin's supports communities through large donations, gift card donations and its Cash for Causes program, which allows nonprofits to purchase gift cards at a 5 percent discount to sell at face value. “We have a long-standing commitment to improving the lives of children and fighting hunger along with supporting other great charities and local groups,” she said.