You asked, they said no, now go away. To believe that Home Depot owes
you anything is absurd. As a Home Depot stockholder I support their
position.

Phil

Praising Jesus wrote:
AFA Action Alert!
Home Depot Scorns Christian Groups
July 28, 2003

"You are a Christian ministry, and we will not donate any funds to any
church or Christian ministry." - Home Depot store manager

According to Home Depot policy, Christian-based organizations "need not
apply" when it comes to requesting donations which benefit the community.
That's because Home Depot rejects grant applications if the organization
espouses Christianity.

When Special Youth Challenge Ministries (SYC) in Dallas, Georgia, asked its
local Home Depot manager for a small contribution to benefit a banquet
fundraiser, the manager turned him down. "You are a Christian ministry, and
we will not donate any funds to any church or Christian ministry," the
manager said.

SYC national Director Charles Walthour was caught by surprise. "Home Depot
has donated to us before, so I was shocked to learn that non-profit groups
that are Christian-based are no longer recognized as legitimate
organizations," he said.

SYC is a national volunteer ministry that grants requests from terminally
ill and handicapped youth in the field of shooting and hunting.

The manager told Walthour if he would remove the word "Ministries" from SYC
letterhead, it would reconsider the donation request. Walthour was unwilling
to do that, saying, "We will not compromise our faith in order to get
something from Home Depot, or anyone else." He said other companies were
more than happy to give to SYC, including Home Depot's corporate competitor,
Lowe's Home Improvement Center.

Don Wildmon, chairman of American Family Association, says Home Depot's
policy is extremely callous toward Christians and churches. "Christians and
churches account for the bulk of people-helping ministries in any given
town. For some reason, Home Depot has chosen to disregard their importance,"
he said.

Wildmon says if Home Depot really wants to be a good community-minded
citizen, store managers should be given "flexible" funds to support any
local organization that helps children in their area.


ACTION NEEDED
Contact Home Depot and let company officials know their anti-Christian
policy is disrespectful to the communities where they do business.


Send Your Letter Now!