They were at the Winn Dixie in Pinellas also. I rarely give to anyone soliciting outside a store, except for the Vets on Poppy Day. In my last city, I spoke with the Publix manager about this several times. I told him I felt like I was being accosted every time I came shopping. In that area, we had kids all the time, too, with their football helmets, or asking for $$ to go on a school trip. First of all, some of them were hardly polite, and their parents were sitting there talking while I gave their kids $$ to play sports (?).Uh-oh...felt a tangent coming on...Anyway, Publix said if they let one group solicit they had to let them all, to which I responded, then stop them all. It was a rare day I could walk in the store and not be embarrassed to not hand over some $$ to someone. I've learned to say "No thank you" and keep walking, and donate to the charities of my choice in the manner in which I choose to do so.
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