Chicago Walmart Takeaways

Sure, I’m getting a little Biblical but don’t let that stop you. Today’s title refers to Micah 6:8 and if you’ve been around churches, you’ve probably heard it. 

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

The last article talked about a recent trip to Chicago. I was the driver for three young women who celebrated their birthdays and graduations with this short excursion. That created time for me to revisit a couple of life’s milestones and to drive-by some of Chicago’s newest sites.

In 2009, I set out to raise money for homeless kids by riding a Segway PT (Personal Transporter) from Rochester, MN to Atlanta. I’ve mentioned this before, but for me, this was a major undertaking, so I think about it and it comes through the stories every so often.

During a break from my Chicago pick-up/deliveries last week, I decided to visit a Walmart store that had been a designated stop on what was then called SOS2009 (Segway Off the Streets). Sure, I see that little play on words (Segue v Segway), but that’s marketing for you.  

On this stop, we had scheduled a fundraiser with a “StandUp for Kids” volunteer, the organizational recipient of our fundraising effort. Since the Segway was an unusual machine, we were giving people a ‘taste’ of the experience for five dollars. 

4950 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL

There were two things that happened that day that have remained with me for 17 years.

1. Before we started the “1st Taste of the First Taste”, I quickly ran into Walmart for a couple of supplies. I didn’t have much time before the event started but as I was walking out of the store, an employee was trying to arrange the grocery carts. Each time she tried to align them, they started moving away from her. As I approached noticing the rather funny scene, I just walked up and stopped the first cart from moving. One more shove and the lady had the carts lined up perfectly. She looked at me with this huge smile and said (well shouted, actually), “THAT’S what I’m talking about!”  

2. About halfway through the event, there were a few takers riding around the parking lot on these self-balancing transporters. I noticed a car driving slowly. Since someone seemed to be checking us out, I approached the car to ask how I could help. The driver said, in a rather quiet and hesitant voice, that she could not afford to pay five dollars to ride a Segway. No problem. If she wanted to give it a spin, she could ride free. She shook her head and said that wasn’t the reason she stopped. She knew something about homelessness and wondered if we’d be willing to take her two dollars as a donation. She didn’t care about riding the Segway, she cared about someone without a roof over their head. 

On Saturday, August 8, 2009, I once again learned to focus on being just and merciful while walking humbly. In the first example, I witnessed joy. A woman had been seen by another. Her struggle had been noticed. Action had been taken without request. Her day was better because of this 10 second interaction. And my life changed a little bit too as it affects me still all these years later. 

The second example, well, here’s what I wrote that day: “Collected a few five-dollar bills and one two-dollar donation. The last one? That's what this is all about. Even though five dollars was out of reach, she wanted (needed) to do something for someone who has less. Make me cry, why don't you! Really. This was big.” 

Yeah. STILL big. 

The Walmart store at 4950 W. North Ave, Chicago has seen significant upgrades since that day in 2009. It’s now brighter, bigger, and provides more for the community than the original first Walmart location in Chicago. 

But the parking lot where people tried the Segway and where the woman with two dollars stopped to help looks much the same. I spent some time just sitting there remembering. I acknowledge that I too have changed because I take those two experiences with me wherever I go. 

Sometimes, the tiniest of actions can have enormous consequences. All it takes is an openness to see, an ability to recognize, and the willingness to act. In those few seconds of interaction with the grocery carts, it seems that I was able to brighten someone’s day. 

Only moments later, the woman and her two-dollar donation bumped into me. She gave me the courage and excitement to look forward to SOS2009’s fundraiser. She brightened my day and the pathway ahead.

I’m guessing that these two women have long forgotten that day. But I am so grateful that I had the time to revisit this place. It cautioned me to stay awake. It reinforced the good feelings given and received. Those women, one Black and one Latino, graced me with a community that day – and it has survived for nearly 2 decades. 

May you also have memories like this and may we all make more of them.