Since I’m on  crutches, my friend wanted to do something nice for me just to get me out of the house, so we first stopped at Shopko. She asked a clerk if I could use their motorized cart throughout the mall, but I would, of course, leave my driver’s license behind, guaranteeing that it would be returned. With or without doing that, I definitely would have done so.

While waiting for my friend to get permission, I was talking to the volunteer who was ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. To his and my huge surprise, my friend came back saying they had turned me down, even with leaving my license with them. The volunteer even said, as he gave them a blank stare across the room, “And it’s even Christmas, and they won’t even help.”

It’s said that there’s still people and businesses like that in 2016 that won’t help someone who’s handicapped. I’m not just writing this for myself but for many others in the past who’ve been turned down but have not spoken up — and mainly for future handicapped people. I just want to be their voice.

So, I slowly hobbled out of their store and into the mall to see the Christmas decorations.

I’m wishing Shopko a blessed Christmas.

Frances Swenson

Albert Lea