Comment Card
Harris Teeter, 16th and Kalorama
Dear General Manager:
When I moved to DC in 1997 I did not even know where 16th and Kalorama was. Today while in town to visit a friend in the apartment building next door to your new store, I was excited to go in and spend around $7.50 on a package of strawberries, $8.00 on a wedge of brie, and $3.00 for a bottle of sparkling water to wash everything down. However my sentiments quickly changed upon walking up to the door of your store. On it is a sign: “No panhandlers or Loiters. Customers, please do not contribute to panhandlers on premises.” I was so offended by this sign that I almost turned around and walked away. But then I quickly remembered that the only other full, non-specialty grocery store in the area is what is known as- - or at least used to be known as - - “the Socialist Safeway” over on Columbia Road. The nickname comes from the long lines and lack of food inside.
Your sign is obnoxious first and foremost because it presumes a harm done by, or reason for suspicion caused by, the poor in this neighborhood in Washington, DC. How DARE a corporation that OPENLY charges over 500% for a loaf of bread claim that the poor man, woman, or child standing out front of the store is a danger or problem! Corporations like Harris Teeter are the problem. You came into this neighborhood to cash in on and perpetuate what is clearly irresponsible gentrification. I should be suspicious of you, not those in the neighborhood harmed by you.
Secondly, it offends me that you would tell ME what to do with MY OWN money. If I wish to contribute to a beggar, that is my business, not yours.
Finally, I suggest that you remove the current sign and replace it with one inviting beggars inside for a discussion about how Harris Teeter can assist members of this community who continue to struggle. I also suggest that you provide free meals to the poor three times a day. If you would like to speak with me further about these ideas, I am available until June 5th and have included my phone number at the top of this card.
With serious concern,
Kate Burke
Comment Card
14 comments:
What shocks me about this is that they are more or less forbidding someone from doing his or her religious duty. Not only Christians give alms, either. It's one of the five pillars of Islam as well. Would they forbid a Muslim from praying outside their store? Oy!
Harris Teeter has been very generous in my community donating funds to support our local homeless shelter. I ran across their community action policy which is posted below.
Thankfully, in the United States private property owners can regulate those who step foot on their property and bother and harass invitees, like the shoppers at Harris Teeter. I far rather tithe to Christian-oriented ministries that assist the poor than blindly give money to people who aggressively harass me when I leave this particular store.
Harris Teeter Programs
Harris Teeter believes in getting involved in our communities!
While we try to help out as many folks as possible, we can't meet everyone's needs. So we've focused our giving into three main areas: eliminating hunger, educating children, and serving specific community needs.
Eliminating Hunger
Harris Teeter has partnered with Second Harvest to make sure the less fortunate in our communities don't go hungry. Through our food donation program that supplies products to charitable agencies and our reclamation program for damaged goods, we give millions of pounds of food each year through Second Harvest.
Educating Children
Through our Together In Education program, Harris Teeter donates thousands of dollars each year to local schools to help them buy needed supplies to educate our children. We also offer scholarship programs for Harris Teeter associates to help them gain a college education.
Serving the Community
We realize that each community in which Harris Teeter stores are located has different needs, so our stores have the flexibility to give back through gift certificates, fundraising support and associate volunteerism. Our associates also take part in a company giving program to help raise funds for United Way. Associate and corporate pledges go to local United Way agencies across all our Harris Teeter neighborhoods.
Would you like to submit a request for a corporate contribution from Harris Teeter? Click here for more information.
If your organization is interested in scheduling a solicitation event at a store location in your area, please click here for additional information.
i think the poor should be out looking for jobs instead of bothering me for my hard earned money.
Luke 6:30
Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.
Yes, but the Apostle Paul also told the Thessalonians to "warn those who are idle" (I Thess. 5:14) that they were not serving God's will.
The fact someone chooses to give or not to give to a vagrant does not fall in conflict with Luke 6:30. Instead one cannot serve two masters, Christ and money, so the question becomes which master one is serving? The fact a company chooses to allow or not allow certain people on its property does not convince me that a company like Harris Teeter is not serving Christ.
And which city are you worshiping, the city of God or the city of man?
And what about grace and mercy?
Speaking of property:
In a world driven by the market, the most important characteristic of property is that it is private. Property's nature of exclusive ownership perpetuates systemic poverty, harming the very same children, men, and women, outside of Harris Teeter. If property were a public good, there would be no market exchange of it. It is interesting to think that property is not owned based on social relations rather social relations are based on the ownership or non-ownership of property.
The private nature of property is seen as “natural” within the market. It is anything but natural. In England before industrialization land was used communally for hunting and gathering. People did not lack the necessities for survival until that property was fenced off and privatized. What is natural according to God is that all human beings should get what they need to survive the day. Private property prohibits inclusive human survivability. Property is the issue where the tensions among equality, freedom, liberty and just distribution are revealed. God’s desire is for all of God’s people to have the necessities to get through the day, and if Christians acted on such belief the market system would radically change and poverty would diminish severely. The conditions of private property cause dehumanization, when really God’s desire is for all people have access to life. In addition to working toward a just exchange and economic policy, (“on the ground” means of solving these very complicated issues), it is important that a little room remain for the surprise of grace, and God’s will. Structural factors, social stratification, capability deprivation, and family changes are some concrete ways in which poverty is created and preserved thereby leading to the suffering of the masses while the minority prospers, generation after generation. Property plays a paramount role in poverty due to its private and exclusive nature. God’s view for the distribution of goods looks very different than what the market of exclusive property has to offer. With societal action and reform work toward a more just means of the utility of property, (like it was in England before industrialization), it is possible to welcome God’s will and God’s grace to the market.
that's a great paragraph full of statements, twilight, but i'm sorry: if these people wanted to "hunt and gather" they would be far away from the store front... which they could do on PUBLIC land. yes, that's right. not all land is private as you suggest.
these people need to get off their lazy asses and help themselves. god has nothing to do with that.
When you say "these people" who are you speaking of?
these people? i think they're referring to the animals.
Sorry Ms. Augusta, but I think this is an inappropriate time to pull out the religion card. And it seems like Harris Teeter does give enough back to the community that they should be allowed make a rule on their private property which allows for a more pleasant shopping experience for their customers. Maybe they could install one of these homeless meters though...
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/05/29/simon.homeless.meters.cnn?iref=videosearch
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/05/29/simon.homeless.meters.cnn?iref=videosearch
I think perhaps you should refrain from playing the capitalist "card."
Interesting video. I worked on Mayor Newsome's "anti-panhandling" measure in 2003 when I was living in San Francisco. He wanted to replace social services with the $400.00 stipend given out in the city to the homeless, which caused a migration problem.
Anonymous said, "Yes, but the Apostle Paul also told the Thessalonians to "warn those who are idle" (I Thess. 5:14) that they were not serving God's will."
First, anonymous posts are cowardly.
Second, I'm pretty sure Paul wasn't talking about the homeless...but probably those who don't help them. This wasn't a letter to the editor, after all, but to a church!
Third, yes, many homeless people are irritating, about as irritating as naked, sick, leprous, and hungry people. Good thing Jesus included the escape clause "unless they are drug addicts" in Matthew 25.
Fourth, I assume you've stopped and had conversations with homeless people, bought them a meal (since money is bad, right?), even touched them with your bare hands??? Then: Kudos!
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