Sand Mountain Reporter

Tough economic times are making it difficult for Christmas Coalition to provide a good holiday for families in need. But an organization making high-pressure donation pitches supposedly on behalf of the Coalition has officials on the defensive.

Jennifer Palmer, president of the Albertville Chamber of Commerce and media coordinator for the Marshall County Christmas Coalition, said Friday several residents and businesses have reported receiving high-pressure phone solicitations from a group purporting to be with the Fraternal Order of Police seeking donations for the group, which will in turn be used to support Christmas Coalition.

“We have no record of them ever making a contribution to Christmas Coalition,” Palmer said. “That organization doesn’t represent the Coalition or two police departments in the county they are using as references. They are using the names of some pretty high profile local law enforcement figures to sound legitimate.”

Lee Hoggle of the Christmas Coalition said officials are “not bashing” the FOP, but want residents to know the Coalition has not asked any third party to solicit funds for them.

“We can’t stop them from asking for funds,” Hoggle said. “What we feel is that they are collecting money for children’s charities but we haven’t seen any money from them in at least the past two years.”

Palmer said while Christmas Coalition does rely on volunteers and individual donors to make their program work, they don’t solicit private donations by phone or door to door.

“We speak through the media. We talk to civic organizations. We talk to churches. We do not go directly to the people at their homes,” she said.

“What we have heard from our members is that these people are very pushy. They are calling both businesses and individuals.

“We are asking residents to let us know when something like this happens, regardless of what the organization is they are seeking funds for. If there is not something right about it, we want to know so we can try to find out what is going on. Residents are always welcome to call their local Chamber office, or the Better Business Bureau. We share the information with neighboring cities and try to get the word out that something may be going on.”

Hoggle said the Coalition has 650 children in need of help yet this holiday season. Donations of cash are accepted through mail to P.O. Box 71, Guntersville, AL. 35976, or by using the secure PayPal donation button on the Coalition’s Web site at www.christmascoalition.org.

Palmer urges residents interested in helping the Coalition to call the Coalition’s offices at 582-9998 or log onto their Web site for more information about sponsoring a child.

Volunteer shoppers take the cash donations and purchase gifts for the children signed up and approved by Coalition officials.

Palmer said new toy donations will be accepted through early December at area fire departments. New toys only for all ages will be accepted, she said.

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Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

Tel: 256-840-3000 | Email

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