The Salvation Army bell ringer had been ringing their bell outside of Price Chopper for several weeks, something that’s somehow more annoying when you do a little research and read about their shady anti-LGBTQ history. They’ve made attempts at fixing this, but the sour taste still lingers. That’s their business, so I always just walk by without saying a thing.
On this day, after picking up the groceries, I was checking out and the cashier asked if I wanted to round up my total and give to the Salvation Army.
“No thanks, not with their anti-gay history,” I said in as friendly a tone as I could muster. Looking slightly surprised, they continued ringing me out.
Then it was my turn to be surprised, as the cashier asked, “You’re not going to commit a hate crime like kicking over one of their buckets or something, are you?”
Mustering every ounce of self-control, I replied, “Umm, no. Also that’s not a hate crime.”
Cashier: “Just warning you that we have this all month so I may be asking you to donate again.”
Me: “Then I’ll repeat what I said as well.”
Just another interesting day at the local Price Chopper.
PS – Buy your groceries at Hannaford.
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