By Terra Avilla
As we approach the holiday season, it’s easy to be wrapped up in the “get in and get out of the store as fast as you can” mentality.
However, I would challenge you to take an extra minute while you are in our Walmart, to truly appreciate how great they are.
Even with hordes of people, flocking in to get whatever Black Friday deal is posted, their associates are extremely helpful. As far as Walmarts go, Lassen County’s is pretty superior.
It may not be a “super” Walmart, like our neighboring counties have, but our store is pretty super.
First of all, can I just say, whoever is running their Facebook page deserves a raise. They always have witty and positive posts that highlight the goodness in our little community. That in and of itself deserves a gold star.
Secondly, Walmart may be a huge corporation, but our local store certainly has a small town feel. All of their employees are very community-centered.
Our store always, always helps and offers our local organizations, schools, non-profits, etc a place to sell and fundraise.
Have you ever tried to reserve a spot in front of a Walmart not in Susanville to sell… let’s just say… Girl Scout cookies? I have. I can tell you the red tape was awful. I had to leave messages with about fourteen different people. But not our store. They have real human beings that answer the phone, and they have managers that actually, like care and actually, like, call you back.
Over the years they have become a spot for more than just a place to pick up whatever grocery or household item you need. They are making a point to become a part of our community.
For example, they had one of the best Santa’s I’ve ever seen walking around the store last holiday season to take FREE pictures with. They did the same thing with the Easter Bunny.
In the past year they have donated to the Susanville Police Department’s K9 program, Susanville Rotary, the Susanville Fire Dept, CHP, Janesville Elementary School, Meadowview School, Public Health, Camp fire victims, Holiday with a Hero and the list truly does go on and on.
They have participated in blood drives, (25 of their employees donated!), and fundraisers for the Children’s Miracle Network, the Lassen Library Wellness clinics and local shopping events, benefiting underprivileged youth etc.
Our Walmart has hosted a community Easter egg hunt in the store, giving out hundreds of dollars’ worth of prizes to our kids. They allow Salvation Army and Toys for Tots a place to collect donations, and they also let the Holiday with a Hero program demolish their store for three hours every December.
Moreover, they do it with a smile on their face.
Did you know that the employees at our local store last year donated a portion of their paychecks to the Holiday with a Hero Program? Store employees, who were doing their best to supply their own family a Christmas, donated a large portion out of their individual checks to help others. (This is aside from their six employees who also donated their time to help wrap Christmas presents at 6 am in the morning.)
They wanted to help. They want to be a part of our community. That’s a whole lot of good people with a whole lot of heart in that store.
That’s a whole lot of commitment to making our community better.
That’s a whole lot of reasons why our local Susanville Walmart is one of the reasons I love the place we live.
