Friendly cashier draws a following

On the job at a Sahuarita supermarket, cashier Donna Hackett is affectionately known to her co-workers as “grandma.”

To many regular customers at the Fry’s Marketplace, she’s a friendly face they look for whenever they visit the store.

Hackett loves her job “because of the people. I’ve met so many neat people.”

Among them is a woman who comes by every morning for a cup a coffee and conversation. And there’s a couple from Belgium who always greets her with “Bonjour, Donna!”

Quail Creek resident Ellen Sussman says that when she first met Hackett while checking out, “She smiled, took the time to say hello and looked me in the eye before she began scanning my purchases. When she was packing, she chatted and smiled, then said thank you like she really meant it.

“She has a warm, friendly and sincere manner,” says Sussman, who now checks to see if Hackett’s on duty when she comes to the market.

“Recently, I even asked her what days she works so I can try to shop when she’s working,” Sussman says, noting that Hackett now calls her by name.

“She is truly a rarity in the workplace and should be the poster girl for checkout cashiers,” Sussman says.

She’s not alone. Other customers tell Hackett they just love coming into the market when she’s there.

“It’s kind of neat to meet people from different walks of life,” Hackett says. “There are some sad stories, and some who say, ‘I’m so glad you’re here today.’”

When one customer often seemed crabby, Hackett told him, “Don’t be grumpy with me today.” They then got to talking, he later introduced her to his wife, “and now he comes through my line each time,” she says.

“There’s a whole completely different attitude,” she says, pointing out that “people react to the way you treat them.”

For Hackett, it’s all about treating people the way she likes to be treated.

“I want them to smile, look me in the eye, address me by name and ask if I found everything I needed. It makes people feel you want them to come back all the time,” she says.

Doing those things for her customers “makes me feel good. I feel satisfaction. They come in and are looking for you,” she explains.

Hackett, 62, moved to Tucson more than 50 years ago. She and her husband, Bryon, have been married 34 years and have two daughters and 11 grandchildren.

She worked for 20 years for local defense contractor Raytheon before retiring in January 2006 and then going to work part-time that fall at one of Fry’s Tucson stores. She transferred to the Sahuarita location when it opened last year.

At least once a month, she and Bryon head into the desert with friends from the Gold Prospectors of America, Lost Dutchman Mining Association or the Desert Gold Diggers, of which Hackett is president.

“I love going out and playing in the dirt and riding my quad,” Hackett says, adding that prospecting, metal detecting and gold panning are good exercise and the camaraderie is great.

She also brings some of her grandchildren along to the outings, camp-outs, picnics and more.

At work, Hackett belongs to the supermarket’s cultural council, which focuses on employee safety, pride, respect and diversity.

Last month, she and other members of the group spent a weekend selling hot dogs outside the market to raise money for autism awareness, since three of the store’s employees have children with autism, Hackett explains. They raised more than $500 for their cause, she adds.

“It’s not just me. It’s the whole team (at the market),” she says. “That’s what makes it fun for me.”

Making a Difference features folks who help make Sahuarita a great place to live. To recommend someone for this weekly series, call Karen Walenga at 547-9739, e-mail to kwalenga@gvnews.com or FAX to 625-1603.