REALITY CHECK: Returned Toy Donations?
47 views · Published 27 January 2015 · 2:04 · Indexed 1 October 2026
Channel: WLOS News 13 · 2015 · News & Politics
ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Three photos of shopping carts full of toys, along with a Facebook post has gone viral, and now has local charities taking precaution. The Facebook post claims donated gifts from organizations or toy runs were being returned to Walmart. The Facebook user says a store clerk told him folks returned the toys to buy beer and cigarettes. Bill Murdock, CEO of Eblen Charities, has his doubts. Sometimes these things kind of get out of hand. You know, somebody will make a comment or somebody will assume something and then all of the sudden it becomes the truth, whether its the truth or not, Murdock said News 13 called the Walmart on Bleachery Boulevard in Asheville, and was told the photos were in fact taken at that store. But store representatives say the claim the toys are all returns is 100 percent not true. They say most of the toys are items left around the store that need to be restocked. With Christmas just a week away, at the Ingles Toy Store in the Westgate Shopping Center, theyre still seeing a large demand for gifts. Murdock says hes received calls and emails regarding the Facebook post and theyre taking precautions. In an effort to reduce the chances someone will return one of the donated toys to a local store, Eblen Charities representatives have started marking over the bar codes. Were doing everything we can here and Im sure all the other groups are as well, Murdock said. Even if a few of those in the carts are returned gifts, Murdock says it shouldnt stop you from donating. If people still want to give, and hopefully they do, not to let something like this deter them from the thousands, not only with Eblen Charities but all the other wonderful groups, that are out there collecting toys and distributing them for families, he said. Walmart representatives say while they arent able to track the number of returned items that may have been gifts, they do not accept returns on items not in their original packaging. Families who need assistance this holiday season can contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066, for more information. You can also contact Eblen if you would like to make a donation. By: Lauren Brigman Follow Lauren on Twitter @LBRIGMAN_WLOS _______________ Follow WLOS on social media: WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/ WLOS ABC 13 News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WLOS_13 WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13 Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to AnchorMOMS, the Podcast: https://wlos.com/news/anchormoms/anchormoms-the-podcast Watch more top local news stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk8Ge6UXHJs&list=PLkVbaoT-aYbIvnEpR0Ct5QQQqYaORUSUH For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.wlos.com Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://wlos.com/watch Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340 WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
