Happy To Help

Finding Mercy:

‘Going Above and Beyond’ Does Make A Difference

By Cynthia Lacefield

Store #3484

            When retired Pastor Jack Gambill came in early one morning last August, he only needed to pick up a couple things. Mr. Jack is a regular patron at the Walmart on Blue Angel Parkway, and he comes in with a cheerful attitude and a friendly joke several times a week. This particular morning when he left, Pastor Jack returned home to his lovely wife Girllean, with a stowaway – a wet and frightened ‘parking lot’ kitten- a kitten they named Mercy.

            A few months back, a tiny kitten appeared in the parking lot. It was so pitiful and would meow and cry in the distance at night. We could hear him and we would see him, but when we tried to catch him, he was too afraid to let anyone near. A few of us had been trying to leave him food, but feeding wildlife is a problem for retail businesses, as it can bring more animals onto the property, which in turn can cause problems with breeding and pest control, health issues, and possibly even safety because other wild animals are also in the area. For those reasons, it is just not advisable to encourage or allow personnel to feed feral animals.

At the same time, there are over 70 million feral cats in the United States. It is a problem that involves all of us - businesses, consumers, and residents alike, as urban areas and concrete structures take up more and more land, and the numbers of these feral animals who are not spayed or neutered continue to increase. The odds were not in this tiny little kittens favor, but what could anyone do?

             It had rained a bit that night. I was returning to the store from my break, but heard the kitten meowing from the motor of a vehicle. I had seen the pastor go in the store, so I went inside and looked up and down the grocery aisles until I found him so I could see if that was his vehicle and warn him to check it out before he drove off.  

           "Well, me and the security guard went out there and looked with a flashlight", said Mr. Jack a few days later, "but we didn’t see anything and I went home. The next morning, I went out to my garage and there was this cat. I couldn’t believe it."

           "I accused him of picking it up and bringing it home" interjected Ms. Girllean as she chuckled. "Anyway, I couldn’t let it starve, so I fed it!" said Mr. Jack.

From that moment on, Mercy was home. Mr. Jack, who is allergic to cats, opened his heart and his home. Together, he and Girllean decided to keep the kitten, and they named him Mercy. It is obvious that he adores Mr. Jack, although he still does not care for other people. He no longer survives each day and night in a harsh parking lot, searching and begging for scraps of food. He had indeed found mercy.

          

I never gave a second thought to going into the store searching for Mr. Jack that morning. Sure. I could have gone on about my business and ignored the kitten. I was on break after all. It wasn’t my cat. It wasn’t my car. It wasn’t my problem. In truth however, I really enjoy helping people, and my position there overnight gives me the chance to be a help in small ways to many of our customers. My direct managers are always reminding us how important our customers are and how we need strive to go ‘above and beyond’ for customer service, but to be honest, that is something that just comes naturally for me. Assisting customers is the most satisfying part of my workday. When I see relief on their face because I help them locate a product or information, it warms my heart, and it reminds me that I’m doing more than just earning a paycheck.

                 While I was visiting their home to see Mercy, I talked with Mr. Jack about his relationship with our store. The couple have been shopping at this location since the store opened, so I asked him how he felt about our store and our associates. His response was heartwarming, and I admit, I sat there with thankfulness and pride in my fellow workers. As he started describing my fellow associates to me, I recognized and named each of them for him. He said, “…just about everybody in that place, I know them, that’s working nights. The real tall black man who does floors- he always has a smile. He is so sweet. But, not just him- I see them and say good morning- the Filipino man in the produce section always says, ‘Good morning, sir'- the lady with white hair, over in the bakery, the same way." As he went on Mr. Jack grinned. "There is a young fella who comes over to me every time he sees me and says, 'What’s new, Preacher?' and I say, 'Well, I’ve got a new joke...' ” 
        If you have the pleasure of knowing him, you know…this is Mr. Jack.  If you have the opportunity to come to our store…these are my co-workers. 

      
       This is Walmart. This is what we are. We are your family members, your friends, and your neighbors. We are all part of this community, and we really are HAPPY TO HELP!