Some of America’s leading retailers are sending a unique message this holiday season, and that message is, “We’ve got our own problems; fuck the poor.” Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie and K-Mart are just top names in a new practice of limiting or completely forbidding the Salvation Army from setting up their collection pots outside stores.

Wal-Mart led the phasing out of the charity’s donation drive after labour unions complained that if the Salvation Army were allowed at Wal-Mart, picketers should be too. Wal-Mart’s response was to limit the charity’s presence to three consecutive days, and no more than a total of 14 days annually. Other retailers and shopping malls have followed suit, in some cases telling Sally Ann to piss off altogether.

With large percentages of holiday donations attributed to storefront kettles, and the demand on their food banks increasing rapidly, the Salvation Army fears the new limitations could prove disastrous to them and those they assist. :

» Scott Saxon