“I was thinking how can this be? How can somebody who’s clearly lived a long time and worked so hard be out here in this heat pushing carts,” Swensen said.
According to the heat index for that day, it felt like 111 degrees. Swensen was already heading home to put her groceries away but couldn’t shake the feeling of seeing McCormick outside, pushing the shopping carts, so she returned.
Swensen approached McCormick and learned he worked at the store to make ends meet. He has been pushing shopping carts outside for 23 years. Living off $1,100 in Social Security each month, McCormick’s bills totaled $2,500. He worked at Winn Dixie to fill the gap.