So, here in the middle of no where (and I don't mean that badly and I love my home area,) Walmart has proven itself to be the slow lumbering troll of the mass market world. In the Ozarks, someone is always mad at someone else for something. Bickering is just a part of living here.
However, there are just some things and/or people that a person or organization just doesn't mess with here in our little corner of the world.
Frank Swanson is one of those people. This man is the kindest, most giving and loving person I have ever met. Frank has worked at Walmart for just short of 20 years. In point of fact, 3 weeks short of 20 years. He has
always had something nice to say to everyone. Every time he was my cashier or even just saw me walking around, he told me how beautiful that I was and, on rare occasion, I have been the lucky recipient of one of Franks very loving hugs. And for those who would twist that little tidbit, I mean that he hugs with his whole heart with no expectation of anything. Purely to show that
someone, that being him, cares about them.
Frank has dedicated his life since an accident in the 8th grade to making other people happy. He fell from the back of a moving truck and cracked his skull on the asphalt of the highway. He spent 6 weeks in a coma with traumatic brain injury and partial paralysis in his right side. When he woke up, he was changed. His brother made the comment that when Frank woke up and saw his brother, he was so happy. He was overjoyed that his brother hadn't been hurt too.
So Frank starting doing everything he could to make other people smile and bring some joy to their day. I have seen Frank take money from his own pocket and put it with a customers money so that they can afford groceries to feed their kids that week. On top of that, I've seen him take that money that he put his with, make the correct change from it, and
give that change to the customer.
His money.
I have also been in line when Frank asked an elderly woman if she wanted a hug. I could tell that she was surprised and when she turned to look at us standing behind her, I told her I wasn't in a hurry. I really didn't care what the people behind me thought or would have said and they didn't say anything for the same reason I said what I did. Frank gave that elderly woman a hug and she almost broke down into tears. Turns out that she didn't have anyone left, and that was the first hug she'd had in years.
Then Walmart, waiting until the razor thin line before Frank can retire but not be accused of firing Frank for that reason, fires him.
Would you like to know why?
It's very simple and despite what their spokesperson keeps saying to the contrary, they put it in writing.
They fired Frank for holding up the Walmart price match guarantee... and for hugging the customers.
Despite the fact that Frank was the best sales associate that they had. He may not have been fast at checking people out, but that wasn't why Frank's line was always long. Frank's line was long because he cared about people. He cared if someone was having a bad day and he would laugh and joke until that person left the store with what they purchased and feeling like they had won the billion dollar lottery.
Frank also took his kindness outside the Walmart store. He would buy coats on clearance along with school supplies and take them to the schools to give to children would couldn't afford anything. He gave those coats to kids who didn't have anything to keep them warm. He gave school supplies to the teachers for those children whose parents had to chose to buy things for school or feed their babies.
All this isn't just recent things that Frank has done. He did similar things when he was younger and in school himself. He would buy candy for 5 cents a piece and sell it to the kids in school for 10 cents each. Then he would take that extra 5 cents along with the 5 cents he got back and buy more candy. But Frank wasn't thinking about making money. That piece of candy he bought with that extra 5 cents he made, he gave to the kids in school who couldn't afford it. And if one of those boys who was buying candy happened to end up with a few free pieces every now and again, that was fine with Frank too.
Frank has a heart the size of the world. He understands that the people here are poor. With all the jobs that have been lost in the recent years and the gas prices and grocery prices skyrocketing, Frank knew that every penny counted for some people. So much so, that he would spend his breaks, lunch breaks and free time scouring the ads from the other store,s looking for the lower prices that Walmart policy said they would match. Which by the by, I looked up this policy and this is exactly what it says. That the Walmart store is responsible for locating their competitors prices. The policy also doesn't state anywhere that the ad must be present for the price matching to take place. No where does it state this. They do "reserve" the right to verify. But it doesn't state that they have to right there on the spot and "reserve" means that they can. Not that they will or have to.
Frank brought more business to our Walmart than he every "lost" them price matching. In point of fact, the manager of our Walmart is so despised in parts of the area here that Frank was the
only reason that some of us shopped there at all.
So, Walmart decides that Frank is getting up there in years with the company and they don't want to spend that kind of money when part timers are cheaper. Because, let's face it. If they were going to fire him for price matching and hugging people, they wouldn't have waited 20
years to do it.
Then Walmart has the unmitigated gall to release a statement that implies that Frank was stealing from the store. Not only that, but they also imply that he was enabling others to steal from the store.
Frank may have a huge heart, but he knows the difference between right and wrong. He would never, ever steal anything! In fact, there was a news interview with Frank by KSPR this very evening where Frank said as much. When he said that he wouldn't steal, even an oblivious person could tell that the thought had never even crossed his mind. That he was hurt that the store and people he had worked 20 years with would accuse him of such a thing when they knew better.
Instead of being angry, Frank is being forgiving. He doesn't want any anguish over this. That would be the rest of us. The community and the people who have moved away but grew up with Frank, either in school or working at the Walmart, are enraged on his behalf.
But Frank doesn't want any trouble. So instead of going Ferguson on the Walmart here, there is going to be a peaceful rally. There is even an unofficial coordinator making sure to post the rules of peaceful protest and relaying messages between the police, business owners and the city about where it can happen, what can happen, what can been done, what can be said to keep this protest peaceful and not turn it into a riot or outbreak of violence.
When asked if he would come to the protest, Frank was reluctant, he doesn't want people to go out of their way or get cause problems because of him. But seeing as everyone is going to be there for him, he agreed so long as it's peaceful.
It's being called "Hugs for Frank" and t-shirts are being made both at cost and with half proceeds going to Frank in support of this movement. People who live out of state and miles upon miles away, who would never make it here in time to stand with the demonstrators, are ordering those t-shirts to show their support for Frank.
Oh, and the price matching incident that got him fired. It was over a gallon of Red Diamond tea. The Walmart list price: $2.88 - the price in the Willow Springs ad: $1.98.
Walmart then stated that they couldn't find the ad that listed this price. But even now two days later, page upon page of this ad has appeared with the people who are standing up in support of Frank.
Walmart then released a statement that they did not let Frank go because of hugging the customers. Well, Sam Walton would roll over in his grave, because that is exactly what is spelled out in the reason for termination on Frank's exit interview.
Fired for hugging customers, whom he asked first, and for losing $1.00 in a price comparison.
One dollar.
The good news is that, what Walmart doesn't know they lost, other business owners are throwing offers at. At least 2 other businesses in town have called Frank for interviews with several others making calls to Frank to ask him to come in and interview.
News flash Walmart Corporate. We survived on small businesses before you. And considering that the news is just starting to get to the rural part of the area of what you did, the boycott has just begun. Though I'm not sure you would care about losing the money from an entire four counties in rural Missouri who shop here.
The "Hugs for Frank" protest begins at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, April 9th. As long as everyone obeys the laws and keeps it peaceful. I'm sure the police do not want to have to throw over a thousand people in jail, or use tear gas. One thing I'm sure of, is that the manager at Walmart will just be itching for an excuse to call the police into it.
If anyone would like more information on the "Hugs for Frank" protest, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/253979121617035/permalink/254185604929720/
Anyone looking to buy a shirt for "Hugs for Frank" can do so at"
The Howell County Outpost for $12.00 where half the proceeds go to Frank.
Or iDesignMemories where you can buy the #TeamFrank t-shirt for $7.77 to show your support of "Hugs for Frank" at cost.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206234317392261&set=gm.254110241603923&type=3&ref=1&action_history=null
As a post script: Shame on not only Walmart, but also on KY3 for the saddest, obviously paid-off, news story I have ever seen. You have completely destroyed all faith I had in anything you have to report. I will forever see you as a corporate pet if you can't tell the both sides of the truth and not just the parts Walmart wants you to tell. So much for local loyalty and integrity in your news casting.
