USATODAY.com - Retailers ring up charitable giving with shoppers

USATODAY.com - Retailers ring up charitable giving with shoppers: "Retailers ring up charitable giving with shoppers
By Lorrie Grant, USA TODAY
Charity may start at home, but for many holiday shoppers, it continues at Wal-Mart, Target and Talbots.

After a year of natural catastrophes — from the tsunamis in South Asia to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina — many consumers are looking differently at possessions and are increasingly eager to connect gift-giving to worthy causes, retail trend analysts say.

Retailers often link with charities during the holidays, but many of the largest have stepped up those efforts this year. 'Holiday 2005 will be remembered as the year of giving to those in need,' says Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at NPD Group. 'Retailers want consumers to feel good about buying and helping others.'"