Friends of Frank

Many of you in the Florence community know a young man with autism who has been a fixture at Sam’s Club for over 20 years. Frank Eason, who warmly greeted you as you entered the store, was put on leave without pay by Sam’s Club on July 17, 2019. 

Due to changes within the facility, job descriptions were rewritten and Frank was asked to perform all tasks at the service desk in addition to his greeting customers as they entered the store. Accommodations were requested due to Frank’s autism, but Sam’s Club denied them. The following day, Frank was put on leave without pay. 

We are asking for help from the community that has loved and supported him his entire life.  A man who “turns you loose” at Sam’s and talks non-stop about sports, is in need. He is looking for a job and also health insurance.  He lives independently and is struggling to meet monthly expenses since Sam’s was his only source of income. 

Frank describes his laid off condition as “just wrong.” He said he knows that he was let go due to his autism and further said “I can’t help it that I am autistic.” He told us recently that he misses "his people", not just his co-workers but the customers who enter Sam’s Club.