Wells Fargo and TD banks of Tampa Bay, Florida are inducted into our Hall of Shame for refusing to participate in the Toys for Tots program for no legitimate reason. Previous years posed no problem for these banks. From the Toys for Tots website: The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted . . . The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens . . . to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable resources our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future . . . The boxes were delivered per usual. We just based it off last year per their need. As soon as the boxes were delivered, we were told unfortunately they needed to be removed or weren't even placed in the lobby to begin with, said Terese Kerrigan of Toys for Tots West Pasco to Fox Tamp Bay. I'm amazed at their insensitivity, said said West Pasco Toys for Tots coordinator John Durkin, a Marine Corps colonel in a recent Tampa Bay Online article. Wells Fargo spokeswoman Kathy Harrison told Fox that the bank has a policy prohibiting such activity in its lobbies. We do have a nonsolicitation policy that's been in effect for a couple years, she said. Wells Fargo also says that it is helping out communities by giving more than $11 million to donations which, many would argue, is really nothing compared to the $25 billion communities across the nation gave them in TARP funds. They claim that rejecting the boxes was a choice made out of respect to their customers. Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com
[Source: The Blaze]