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Deadline looms for charities at NB Liquor stores

As of July 1, small charity groups will no longer be allowed to ask NB Liquor customers for spare change at store entrances, leaving them searching for new fundraising methods. The corporation's ban isn't on fundraising entirely, just the way in which it's carried out.

Some major charities have received funding through an "ask at the cash" program.

Christina Tardif, secretary of the Maritime Greyhound Adoption Program, says her charity lost its main revenue source and is now scrambling to make up the funding.

"The Liquor Stores for Maritime Greyhound Adoption Program was our main source of funding. All of our budgets are based around that. Once a year, one major push in each city and we were able to bring in what we needed through that," she says.

Tardiff says 800 greyhounds have received costly veterinary care and been placed for adoption in the Maritimes with the funding. Now the group is looking at other options. It is hosting a walkathon this weekend in all three major cities of the province. They're also looking at hosting spaghetti dinners.

When the ban was announced in 2014, NB Liquor said it was because customers didn't enjoy being solicited.

"They feel like it's an overabundance, that they're being solicited store after store, and we're not usually their first stop. And our main goal is to ensure that we give customers the best possible experience in our store," said spokesperson Marcelle Saulnier.

The stores have been running "prompted donation" campaigns, however, where the customer is asked if they would like to donate to a specific charity at the checkout.

"Stores held four prompted donations this fiscal year, and thanks to the generosity of our customers donated more than $140,000 to five organizations" states the 2103-14 annual report.

The report outlines to donations:

- MADD Canada: $31,475

- Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation: $35,877

- Canadian Red Cross Philippines Relief: $50,475

- United Way: $21,238

- Centre bénévolat de la péninsule acadienne: $3,244

Some major campaigns will still use liquor store entrances.

The Royal Canadian Legion can still run its poppy campaign.

Rhonda Harrington, a spokesperson for the Salvation Army in the Maritimes, believes their kettle drive is also a go for six weeks at Christmas.

CBC News has asked NB Liquor to clarify what plans are in place for continuing with prompted donations but no one responded.