Publix employees Todd Pendleton, Collin Barnett and Davion Sheppard lend credence to the reason the supermarket chain was rated the No. 1 fan-favorite among America's grocers in a 2017 online Market Force Information research survey.
Pendleton, a bagger in the store at the Shoppes at New Tampa; Barnett, a front service clerk in the Publix at the Dale Mabry Shopping Center in South Tampa; and Sheppard, a stock clerk at the Riverfest Commons store in Riverview, embody the Publix core value of engaging with customers and showing respect for everyone in their presence.
The three men, each with his own level of intellectual impairment, were hand-picked by their individual management teams as local faces behind the Publix 2018 Special Olympics Torch Campaign, which launched this week in all of the chain's 1,167 stores.
In partnership with Proctor-&-Gamble, Publix customers and associates are invited to make a donation at the register of 3, 10 to Special Olympics Florida, an organization that gives children and adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to build self-confidence and achieve their fullest potential through sports training and competition.
In turn, donors will receive 40 million has been raised since the annual campaign was established in 1993.
The relationship with Publix dates back to 1972. The state's Special Olympic athletes faced skipping the National Games in Los Angeles because they couldn't afford the flight. Publix founder George Jenkins stepped up and covered the cost of the flight.
"He's always had a heart for people and helping those in need," said Publix media and community relations manager Brian West.
The store continues to fulfill that need today, showing no preference when it comes to hiring employees who are differently-abled.
"Our managers conduct in-person interviews during the hiring process, and they're very good at recognizing potential talent," West said.
Contact Joyce McKenzie at hillsnews@tampabay.com.
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