Shoppers, businesses frustrated with fund-raising group
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Shoppers are raising new concerns about a group soliciting for donations in front of some Bakersfield stores, and some businesses are taking action.
But, Nu Creations maintains they have a right to ask for funds, and they say they are helping the needy.
Eyewitness News has learned Target Corp. has a preliminary injunction against Nu Creations in Santa Clara County. It was granted on Dec. 15, and at least one local Target store is now at times posting an employee near the solicitors.
Meanwhile, at the Albertson's grocery store on Rosedale Highway, customers said they have been very concerned about the group asking for money near the entrance.
"If you don't have the money to hand to them, they'll cuss at you or disrespect you as you're walking into the store," Chanesse Jones told Eyewitness News.
"I think I felt kind of uncomfortable about it," customer Richard Janes said of his encounter with a solicitor. "He was real pushy, he was like -- feel sorry for me, can you help the homeless?"
Albertson's managers put up a number of signs on the walls and doors near the solicitor's small, folding table.
"Petitioning activities on the premises do not necessarily reflect the views of Albertson's," read the signs. "You are not obligated to talk with these people or accept any printed material. If you feel you have been delayed or harassed, please inform store management immediately."
Albertson's communications director Stephanie Martin sent Eyewitness News a statement about the company response to the situation.
"We did receive many complaints of harassment from customers, so our Rosedale store director took the following actions: asking the petitioner to leave, issuing the petitioner a trespass warning, calling law enforcement (and) posting signage to alert our customers that we do not support this petitioner of funds."
Target spokeswoman Jessica Carlson said its stores are also trying to deal with this group. Target has a company-wide no solicitation policy. They do not allow solicitation by any group.
Several Target spokesmen met with Bakersfield City Attorney Ginny Gennaro last week. They went over the injunction in Santa Clara County, but Gennaro told Eyewitness News it could not be enforced here, though Target could try to get similar legal action in Kern County.
As for the company's current approach, Carlson said putting a Target employee near the solicitors is "another step" that stores could use. Carlson said Target has specifically told the Nu Creations solicitors to leave every time they show up at a store.
"Target team members continue to work in close partnership with local law enforcement and the Bakersfield city attorney to find a solution to this issue," Carlson added in an e-mail statement.
Eyewitness News looked into the group and its activities in November. In December, local workers with Nu Creations handed out food baskets to the needy just before Christmas.
In the last couple weeks, Eyewitness News made several calls to the local spokeswoman for Nu Creations and left messages. On Monday, the spokeswoman answered her phone, and said she was no longer with the group.
By Monday afternoon, a Nu Creations spokesman from the Bay Area called back. Robert Jones said he would fax information about their position on soliciting in front of stores and documents about the group's nonprofit status.
Later Monday, an attorney called who said he represented the group. Early Hawkins said the injunction in Santa Clara County refers to soliciting in front of of Target stores on Target-owned property. It's the group's position they have a right to solicit in front of stores that are in shopping centers.
Eyewitness News asked for a statement outlining specifics on the group's position and asked for documents on their nonprofit status.
That issue is a concern to the Bakersfield Homeless Center. Director Louis Gill said he gets calls about Nu Creations because solicitors say the funds are being collected to help the homeless and needy.
"They are not doing anything that I can find in the community for homeless individuals," Gill told Eyewitness News. "And that's unfortunate."
Gill said he could not find the group listed on the Guidestar Web site that lists information about charities. Gill said he had reached the local spokeswoman by phone a couple months ago.
"That conversation didn't go well," Gill said. He then tried to call a phone number for Nu Creations in the Bay Area, left a message, but never heard back. Gill said he's left with a lot of questions.
"What I'd want to see, if they're a 501(c)3, I'd want to see their books," Gill said.
Customers who encounter the group said they have those questions, too.
"If it's for the homeless, I like to help the homeless out. But if it's not -- you never know," shopper Greg Franklin said outside the Albertson's on Rosedale Highway.
"I'm not sure if it's a scam," Richard Janes said.
Others said they are just simply uncomfortable with the group.
"I think it's just a little annoying," Robin Evans said. "When you walk into the store, and you're on a mission to go get milk or cereal or something, and you're constantly being stopped by people asking for money."
But, Nu Creations maintains they have a right to ask for funds, and they say they are helping the needy.
Eyewitness News has learned Target Corp. has a preliminary injunction against Nu Creations in Santa Clara County. It was granted on Dec. 15, and at least one local Target store is now at times posting an employee near the solicitors.
Meanwhile, at the Albertson's grocery store on Rosedale Highway, customers said they have been very concerned about the group asking for money near the entrance.
"If you don't have the money to hand to them, they'll cuss at you or disrespect you as you're walking into the store," Chanesse Jones told Eyewitness News.
"I think I felt kind of uncomfortable about it," customer Richard Janes said of his encounter with a solicitor. "He was real pushy, he was like -- feel sorry for me, can you help the homeless?"
Albertson's managers put up a number of signs on the walls and doors near the solicitor's small, folding table.
"Petitioning activities on the premises do not necessarily reflect the views of Albertson's," read the signs. "You are not obligated to talk with these people or accept any printed material. If you feel you have been delayed or harassed, please inform store management immediately."
Albertson's communications director Stephanie Martin sent Eyewitness News a statement about the company response to the situation.
"We did receive many complaints of harassment from customers, so our Rosedale store director took the following actions: asking the petitioner to leave, issuing the petitioner a trespass warning, calling law enforcement (and) posting signage to alert our customers that we do not support this petitioner of funds."
Target spokeswoman Jessica Carlson said its stores are also trying to deal with this group. Target has a company-wide no solicitation policy. They do not allow solicitation by any group.
Several Target spokesmen met with Bakersfield City Attorney Ginny Gennaro last week. They went over the injunction in Santa Clara County, but Gennaro told Eyewitness News it could not be enforced here, though Target could try to get similar legal action in Kern County.
As for the company's current approach, Carlson said putting a Target employee near the solicitors is "another step" that stores could use. Carlson said Target has specifically told the Nu Creations solicitors to leave every time they show up at a store.
"Target team members continue to work in close partnership with local law enforcement and the Bakersfield city attorney to find a solution to this issue," Carlson added in an e-mail statement.
Eyewitness News looked into the group and its activities in November. In December, local workers with Nu Creations handed out food baskets to the needy just before Christmas.
In the last couple weeks, Eyewitness News made several calls to the local spokeswoman for Nu Creations and left messages. On Monday, the spokeswoman answered her phone, and said she was no longer with the group.
By Monday afternoon, a Nu Creations spokesman from the Bay Area called back. Robert Jones said he would fax information about their position on soliciting in front of stores and documents about the group's nonprofit status.
Later Monday, an attorney called who said he represented the group. Early Hawkins said the injunction in Santa Clara County refers to soliciting in front of of Target stores on Target-owned property. It's the group's position they have a right to solicit in front of stores that are in shopping centers.
Eyewitness News asked for a statement outlining specifics on the group's position and asked for documents on their nonprofit status.
That issue is a concern to the Bakersfield Homeless Center. Director Louis Gill said he gets calls about Nu Creations because solicitors say the funds are being collected to help the homeless and needy.
"They are not doing anything that I can find in the community for homeless individuals," Gill told Eyewitness News. "And that's unfortunate."
Gill said he could not find the group listed on the Guidestar Web site that lists information about charities. Gill said he had reached the local spokeswoman by phone a couple months ago.
"That conversation didn't go well," Gill said. He then tried to call a phone number for Nu Creations in the Bay Area, left a message, but never heard back. Gill said he's left with a lot of questions.
"What I'd want to see, if they're a 501(c)3, I'd want to see their books," Gill said.
Customers who encounter the group said they have those questions, too.
"If it's for the homeless, I like to help the homeless out. But if it's not -- you never know," shopper Greg Franklin said outside the Albertson's on Rosedale Highway.
"I'm not sure if it's a scam," Richard Janes said.
Others said they are just simply uncomfortable with the group.
"I think it's just a little annoying," Robin Evans said. "When you walk into the store, and you're on a mission to go get milk or cereal or something, and you're constantly being stopped by people asking for money."
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