VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — It started out as a regular trip to Walmart for Kenna Given that quickly turned into her walking out of the store in anger.
She snapped a picture of “Virginia Beach Strong” shirts on display at the store at Town Center off Virginia Beach Boulevard.
She looked for some type of sign explaining where the funds for the about $10 shirts were going but did not see anything.
"It's free enterprise, I get that. But off the backs of someone's tragedy like that? Wrong. That's just wrong,” she said. "I was mad for us. I was mad for the city. I was really angry for the victims and their families. It just wasn't right."
Given said she reached out to store management but hit a wall with trying to get answers.
"The [workers] talked with their manager and were like 'We can't give you a straight answer. We can't tell you where the money is going to,'” she said.
Some shoppers agreed with Given while others saw nothing wrong with the store selling the shirts.
"It just reminds people that this took place and that they should be thinking about things to do for the families or just praying for the families,” one woman told 13News Now.
Given said she just wants to feel heard and responded to.
"Id like to hear an apology. I'd like to hear an explanation,” said Given.
A spokesperson for the city and United Way said they were unaware of any fundraisers with the store.
A spokesperson from Walmart told 13News Now the shirts were made by Screen Gems.
The company reached out to Walmart asking if they could sell the shirts at this store to raise money for the Tragedy Fund. Walmart gave the company some space to sell the shirts.
After inquiries from the media and shoppers, Walmart removed the shirts and are working to get signage up that denotes proceeds will be donated. The Walmart spokesperson said the donations would come from Screen Gems as the store is not making money off the shirts.
In a statement Walmart said:
We, in partnership with Screen Gems, are ensuring that all proceeds will be donated to the families of the victims through the United Way fund and apologize for not clearly communicating that from the start. We have a strong history of supporting the communities we serve and will continue to do so.
