"I love it here": An inspiration to others, Michael Elmore celebrates 10 years at Winn-Dixie

Michael Elmore is the ideal employee.

He’s always on time, he works hard, and he does it everyday with a smile on his face.

That’s how he’s lasted a decade working in the produce section at the Trussville Winn-Dixie.

“I love it here,” Michael said.

In the middle of June, the store celebrated Michael’s 10-year anniversary, showering him with a cake and balloons. Michael also received a plaque, and his name badge was updated to reflect his lengthy tenure.

He was also named the store’s Employee of the Month in June.

Michael has Down syndrome, but that hasn’t slowed him. At work, he handles a variety of tasks, such as restocking the bananas. He spends some of his time in the cooler as well, and one of his favorite things to help with is unloading a truck full of items into the store.

“I get to use my muscles,” Michael says, rolling up his sleeve to proudly display those muscles.

Jess Giles, the current produce manager at Winn-Dixie, has worked with Michael for a little over a year. But she learned quickly she wasn’t dealing with any ordinary coworker.

“It’s wonderful, and he’s a riot,” she said. “He keeps me on my toes.”

Michael’s first boss was Hiram Jenkins, who retired last year but was at the store when Michael was hired in 2009.

“It’s been such a blessing for me to be around him,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins vividly remembers the day he met Michael, being introduced to him by store manager George Tate, and how Michael gradually learned the ropes.

“He would always learn things,” Jenkins said. “Working the bananas has always been his thing, and taking out the trash. One step after the other, he learned how to do the shelves, then potatoes and onions.”

When Michael interacts with customers throughout his work day, he said he always treats them with “respect and honesty.” He also holds fast to a phrase his father has taught him for years.

“Do what you say, say what you do,” Michael said. “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say it at all.”

“He knows that and he lives by that,” said Robert Elmore, Michael’s dad.

Even though Michael is a bit younger, Jenkins considers him a mentor. His approach to life and work has inspired many, particularly his longtime boss.

“He lives in the moment,” Jenkins said. “In this busy world we’re in right now, Michael can bring you back to this moment.”

Michael works three days a week, with most of those work days beginning at 8 a.m. You won’t ever catch him clocking in late.

“Michael puts priorities on getting to work,” said Pam Elmore, his mother. “That’s his heart. He loves to come to work. It’s really good for him to take on that responsibility.”

The other days of the week, Michael can often be found involved with activities with Independence Place. Independence Place is a “faith-based nonprofit organization developed to meet the social and recreational needs of adult individuals with exceptional needs in a way that allows them to experience a life full of purpose and celebration.”

Michael has been able to effectively balance the responsibilities of holding a job all these years.

“We were excited he was going to be able to work and let him be productive and add to the community,” Robert Elmore said. “He got some money, and he was excited about that.”

When Michael receives his regular paycheck, he sets aside part of it for tithes and offering at his church, First Baptist Church Trussville. Another portion of his check he sets aside to spend. One of his recent purchases was a copy of the movie “Jaws,” a film he enjoys.

Michael turns 32 years old later this year and has his routine clearly defined. During the week, he alternates between work and Independence Place. He watches some of his favorite sports over the weekend, passionately rooting for the University of Alabama football team on Saturdays.

“Why do I like Alabama? Because they won all the years of national championships,” Michael said, before breaking out into a rendition of the Queen hit song “We Are the Champions.”

His Sundays are pretty straight forward as well. He goes to church in the morning and gets home after lunch in time to watch the NASCAR race.

“He has just been a huge blessing in a lot of ways,” Robert Elmore said. “One of the primary ones is his faith. We got to witness Michael come to the Holy Spirit. He’s not shy about worship. And his forgiveness, he loves everybody.”

Many people throughout the community cherish their relationship with Michael, in large part because it seems as if he’s never met a stranger. It has admittedly been an adjustment during the COVID-19 pandemic for Michael to switch from greeting hugs to a more responsible elbow bump.

But the excitement he displays when he sees a familiar face has certainly not been tempered.

“He’s got a heart of gold,” Jenkins said.