The Salvation Army USA complaint: Harassed

On Thursday, February 25th I was shopping for birthday presents for a needy family. I came across a posting that a woman needed gifts for her 17 yr old foster daughter and since I was 17 when I got into foster care, I felt a calling to help. I love The Salvation Army in St Paul MN. I have found some great things for my home as and gifts for others. As I was shopping, I didnt plan on grabbing much. I didnt grab a cart because I didnt think I would need one and also, germs. I ended up finding quite a lot of things. I inspected them all and estimated my total and noticed a dress that I was going to gift was ripped so I returned it to the rack, piled up all of my items neatly on a tray and began searching for another dress as I had already told the mother I was going to get a dress. As I was searching a worker came up to me and told me I needed to leave. I said “Oh Im sorry, is it already closing time?” I hadnt heard any announcements. He said “No, you just need to purchase your items now or leave.” I was really confused and asked why? He said a couple employees said I was being suspicious. I was extra confused now because I was wearing yoga pants, a thin and tight sweater and wasnt even carrying a bag, just a fanny pack and there was absolutely no way I was hiding anything. I told him I was trying to find a dress quick and then I was ready to check out. He proceeded to grab my tray of items and threw it carelessly into a return cart as I desperately tried to find a dress. I wasnt able to find a dress because I didnt want my items put back. I went over and grabbed my items out of the return cart to purchase and kept asking why i was being kicked out if I had not been doing anything wrong besides carrying my things around under my arm and returning a couple items in the wrong spot. He had another female employee check me out who apologized for his behavior. I asked if there was someone I could call and all he said was that he was the manager. He was super uncooperative and very rude. I felt super attacked and harassed during this trip and am very upset about it as this was my favorite thrift store and now I cant even go there without being accused of stealing for walking around with my items for too long. Nor do I ever want to support this ignorant man who lacks any sort of common judgement. I was so upset I was shaking. I was trying to help a family in need last night and this was a real slap in the face to me.