Service with a smile

Posted

By VICKI BROWN

Prior to wearing a mask for COVID-19 safety protocols, Kim Hampleton’s dimples and huge smile were a staple at the McDonald’s in Walterboro, as she would welcome people into the fast-food restaurant.

If she looked up from her food preparations from behind the coffee and condiment counter and saw anyone looking her way, she would smile. That smile draws people to her.

For 45 years, Kim has been serving people at the McDonald’s in downtown Walterboro. She has been faithful to her job, with absences only because of minor illnesses and a six-week hiatus when she gave birth to twins. “I was coming to work at 5:00 a.m. when I went into labor. I didn’t even know I was having twins until they showed up,” she said, laughing.

Other than the 6-week maternity leave, Kim has been a consistent employee with a strong work ethic. Now, at the age of 58, Kim is a vital employee for her employer.

“This Covid situation is terrible…just terrible. People won’t work,” said Kim. “Sometimes there are only three or four people here working the restaurant. I have had to prepare the food, package it, and take it to the customer, all by myself. Just one person. I’ve never seen anything like this. This is just terrible.”

Kim began working in the food service industry in her school’s lunchroom. Once she had a family, she said she needed more hours and money. She applied with Jerry Springfield, McDonald’s manager at the time, and was hired. That was 45 years ago.

“Slowly but surely, things have changed throughout the years,” said Kim. “It really changed when a new owner bought this place. He owns a lot of McDonald’s, and he really fixed up this place nice. In the old days I remember when the grill was small and sat right in the middle of the floor behind the counter.

“We used to have to grill the burgers, mix the pancake batter and pour it on the griddle to make the hotcakes, and roll out dough to make biscuits. But now everything comes in a package,” she said laughing.

She has served with 12 managers in the 45 years.

“I was a manager for 20 years, then moved to food training, and now I am a kitchen manager. Things have changed a lot. My twins are now 39 years old,” she said.

When asked if she was going to retire soon, she said, “Yes, yes, yes!” But when asked when, she smiled and said she didn’t know, and even if she retired, she would still come back and work a “few days a week.”