Salvation Army Volunteer Using Smaller Bell After Business Owner Complains
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A Christmas controversy has surfaced at the Unity Shopping Plaza in Latrobe, Westmoreland County.
The Salvation Army was contacted today, after a business owner in the plaza complained that he was annoyed by the constant ringing of the brass bell by a Salvation Army volunteer in front of the nearby Big Lots Store.
The volunteer, Terri Derck, put the familiar bell away, and instead, either rang a miniature bell, or sang Christmas Carols instead.
Derck told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti, "Instead of ringing the traditional bell, because we don't want to offend certain people in the area, we're using a much smaller bell, making a smaller impact."
Shopper Shannon Smith of Latrobe reacted to the news, saying "I can't believe it, the bell is just a long tradition."
Lt. Andrew Spooner, of the Salvation Army-Latrobe Corps, says they'll have eight red kettles operating in the Latrobe area in the next few weeks.
They hope to raise $65,000 for needy families and children in the area.
Spooner hopes to talk to the business owner who complained about the bell ringing tomorrow, to resolve differences.
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