El Paso Challenge & a Walmart Hero

My hometown of El Paso, is unlike any other. It’s poised in a valley at the tip of the Rocky Mountains in a range called the Franklin Mountains. Across the way lies Mexico, our lands divided by the Rio Grande with sunsets you can’t really describe on the desert horizon. I want to share with you the EL PASO CHALLENGE that was started by a little 11 year old boy, Ruben Martinez and a hero that I worked with 18 years ago, Gilbert Serna.

Our Community

A couple of weeks ago my heart broke when violence broke out in a violent mass shooting in El Paso. It was at a Walmart not unlike the one I started my retail career in. Since then multiple heros have arisen, which is no surprise to me. The fabric of El Pasoans and our fellow border Mexican citizens is made of kindness, acceptance, and love. It’s no surprise that the El Paso Challenge has come about. And also no surprise that Antonio Basco, a man who lost his wife with no other family, had hundreds of El Pasoans come to his wife’s funeral.

El Paso Challenge kindness ideas!

The 22 acts of kindness is for the 22 lives that were lost in this terrible event. As I set out to do these random acts of kindness it occured to me how simple it really is. But also we make it hard for ourselves to take time for the little things. At least I do.Here are some ideas that you can do take part in the El Paso Challenge!

El Paso Challenge Kindness Ideas- Home

1. Surprise your spouse with doing something you aren’t normally “assigned” to do. For me, that’s cooking! 🙂
2. Read your kids an extra book or blow bubbles with them until you turn blue in the face.
3. Take your neighbor’s trash bins in.
4. Call your mom or dad and tell them a memory from your childhood that means everything.
5. Give back to your hometown with donations if you can. No amount is too small, trust me, I’ve seen it.

El Paso Challenge Kindness Ideas -Strangers

6. Buy someone their train/bus ticket or use your mass transit card.

7. Tell the woman in line you love something about her outfit.

8. Let the the person obviously training (at coffee shop, grocery store, etc.) that they’re doing a great job!

9. Take the time to review that person for an amazing service!

10. Open the door for a mom with a stroller.

11. Let that person cut in front of you while you’re in traffic.

12. Introduce yourself to the new neighbor, co-worker, tell them all about their new place.

13. Carry around packaged goods in your car so that you can hand them out to homeless people you encounter.

14. Help mamas you don’t know, so many resources HERE.

15. Leave tennis balls at a dog park.

El Paso Challenge Kindness Ideas -Friends

16. Listen to them. Don’t say anything just listen.

17. If the feeling arises to give them something you own, don’t think, just let it go!

18. Show up to their events. Support their causes.

19. Tell them what they need to hear.

20. Make something for them.

21. Send them your favorite Amazon purchase! So easy to send.

22. Hug them!

The Walmart Hero I worked with

It was a typical hot summer 100 degrees day in El Paso, when I first went out to the Walmart trailers. The “layaway trailers” were outside behind the store, perhaps 8 of them. They were huge trailers filled with boxes and items such as bikes, that people were working hard to take home with them some day. It was out there that I first got to know “Gil”, a Walmart, US and El Paso hero after the shooting at Walmart store #2201. Before I tell you about the Walmart hero, a bit about the store and the environment.  

Store 500

The store I got assigned to as a management intern was the most beautiful Walmart I had ever seen; store 500. Supercenters were popping up everywhere in 2001. Growing up we hadn’t been huge Walmart shoppers so I wasn’t up to speed with their vastness. As I reported to my first day of work, the floors glistened and not an item, if you can picture it, was out of place. I felt as if I were at a Nordstrom. A good one. The store manager was legendary for merchandising and fat margins, a superstar store. There were about 700 people that worked at the store and about 10-12 assistant store managers to manage it all. Gil at the time, worked layaway primarily from what I remember, but was quick and capable and frequently placed in different sections of the store. You could always count on Gil.

The Trailers

“Member of management needed to layaway”, I would hear over the walkie. Usually a manager was needed to go open the trailers with an associate as we were the key holders to the trailers. Since I was at the bottom of the todem pole, I frequently volunteered to take the call and headed out to the trailers. It was usually steaming hot, and of course I would be wearing a ridiculous suit. A flatbed might be needed to lug the items in. I could see why someone might want to skip the call but I loved going out to the trailers. It was peaceful, physical and you always got to know the people you went out with a bit more than you may have otherwise. 

My memories of Gil

My first impression of Gil was his quiet confidence. He was a couple of years younger than I but I could clearly see that he was mature and extremely bright. Gil would calmly explain things to me that I had no notion of, always respectfully. The respect he had for every one he crossed paths with was a constant. There was no punk attitude or complaining about the hard work that is retail, just a calming force. Gil would do that extra favor of helping the little grandma or volunteer to help his fellow associates. When it came to the really heavy stuff he was resourceful and never let me help him, saying I got it! You could always count on Gil. 

Kindness

Even though my name tag said management,I was just another kid like him and he knew it. However, Gil never made me feel like I had to earn respect like some did. The difference between he and others that at times were condescending about my internship role, was his kindness. He knew I had no idea what I was doing but he saw that I wanted to learn and taught me a lot. In all of these trips to the trailers during my time there, we would joke and vent on a variety of topics. It was mostly me just rambling. He had this habit of looking at the ground and pushing his glasses up with his index finger as he shook his head smiling, probably thinking “oh girl, what ARE you doing?”

Hero

When I heard about the Walmart hero that saved people by ushering them to the trailers I thought of Gil and all of the layaway crew during that era. So many amazing people. It never crossed my mind that it was he since it was a different store and what would be the odds?! I have consumed so many news stories about the Walmart and Dayton shootings that my heart almost couldn’t bear another story. However, when I saw the headline in my news stories and a little image of him I had to watch.I played the interview as I stood in customs’ long line from Japan back home. As I sobbed and heaved with foreigners wondering what was wrong, it hit me that I knew Gilbert Serna. You could always count on Gil. 

Almost 20 years later

He looks quite different,as do I, almost 20 years later but I knew those glasses and that kindness in his eyes. Poor Nick didn’t know what to do with me, as I lost my composure yet again. The trailers, the keys, the packages and signage, the whole scene in the news clip came alive. I was transported to the trailers. I could imagine the customers making their way back to the store with Gil, the bloody baby he saw, fumbling with the trailer keys to lead the people in. The scorching hot trailer, the tears. My heart shattered for him, the store, the victim’s families, the victims, our country. 

Destined for Greatness!

Obviously, we went our seperate ways. I always wonder about some of the people I worked with at that behemoth store including Gil. Today I can see that God had a plan for him to be an angel on earth. To be there that day when he saved 150 people from a racist lunatic. I am not sure there is anything in this world that could mean more or be worth more than that. Gilbert Serna it had to be you, we could always count on you. 

Along with participating in the #ElPASOCHALLENGE, please check out these organizations doing a lot of good for the town, gun control and our country.

Helping the El Paso Comunity & Victims Fund- El Paso Community Foundation

Helping the Dayton Community (also suffered a mass shooting that day) – https://www.daytonfoundation.org/dayton_oregon_district_tragedy_fund.html

Gun Control Now- Sandy Hook Promise , Moms Demand Action, Everytown for Gun Safety

I hope you join me in the #ELPASOCHALLENGE for 22 acts of kindness! Please chime in with more goodness ideas! Lots of love, XO, Z