City Market draws fire from charities

Tue, Jan 17th 2012, 09:30 AM

Bahamas Supermarkets Limited (BSL), the parent company of City Market, is once again under fire - this time from a group of disappointed local charities that are claiming the supermarket chain has gone back on a promise to donate towards their causes. Guardian Business has learned BSL launched a fundraising initiative in July 2009 tied to a Smart Shopper Savings Stamp Program.  Customers had the opportunity to give back to several charities through the donation of their City Market Shopper Savings Stamps. 

 At the time, there were 11 City Market locations throughout New Providence and Grand Bahama, with a fundraising stand located at each branch having 12 sheets - each sheet was assigned to a non-profit organization, charity or group. The eight charities that were chosen for the program included: The AIDS Foundation, the Bahamas Girl Guides Association, the Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation, the Bahamas National Trust, the Bahamas Red Cross, the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, the Salvation Army and the Scout Association of The Baham as Chairman of the Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation, R.E. Barnes, told Guardian Business that his organization was asked to be a part of this fundraising initiative, something he said he was excited about at the time. "I believe there were 10 or 12 local charities that were named as the recipients.

  With a marker, interested shoppers could choose which charity they wanted to support, whether it was the Sassoon Heart Foundation or the Cancer Society. You would place your stamps on these cards," Barnes said. "For each of these cards that were filled out, each charity was to receive $10.00.  At the time, I believe there were nine or ten stores.  Based on that, they anticipated each charity receiving $100 on a weekly basis.  Multiply that by 50 weeks, you're looking at a minimum of $5,000 annually. " Barnes noted that at the end of each quarter, a check representing the total number of sheets accumulated was to be presented to the charities or organizations that were part of the program.

 According to documents obtained by Guardian Business, each of the charities filled out a fundraising registration sheet, where an agreement was made between them and the supermarket chain.  The agreement also stated that checks for the approved charity or non-profit organization will be issued on a quarterly basis. Since that time, BSL has changed ownership, but still promised organizations such as the Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation that it would honor monies that had been accumulated at this point.  However, to date Barnes said his organization has not received a dime. "On three occasions, promises were made that we would receive something the following week.

 It's a little frustrating from a charity standpoint, because we would like the public to be aware of where their funds or donations are going and what they are being used for," according to Barnes. "At the end of the day, I feel I was used.  Charities across the board are really hurting right now.  In our organization, there are a number of kids that need to have surgery, so we can use every penny we get." Barnes also pointed out that his organization is not the only one that has not received money from the charity program.. "I have also spoken to a number of the other charities including the Cancer Society.

  We have called the new (City Market) owners repeatedly.  Now I am not sure of the agreement between the present and previous owners, as to who was to resolve this matter," he shared. President of the Cancer Society of The Bahamas Earle Bethell, pointed out to Guardian Business that his organization has not received any funds from the program either. "We're disappointed because we know that many people gave their stamps so that the proceeds can go to our organization and the many other charities," Bethell explained.  "I must say that we have made the effort to communicate with City Market's new owners to resolve that matter. 

 They have told us that they are the new owners and it was an initiative created by the former owners.  We have tried over and repeatedly to resolve this matter with them, but that never happened. "At this point, we have sent letters, made numerous phones calls and there has been no response." Meantime, BSL's Vice President Nikki Finlayson-Boeuf told Guardian Business that her team is looking into the matter.

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