MUNCIE, Ind. (WTHR) - From the moment he greets you at the counter at a Muncie Taco Bell restaurant you realize Zachary Syphers isn't just the guy taking your lunch order. His outgoing and friendly personality are known to regular customers. But now, people on Facebook are becoming familiar with the 30-year-old fast food employee.
On Tuesday, Alexis Couch spotted Syphers going out of his way to help an elderly customer inside the restaurant. Couch took a photo and posted it on the social media website. It has been "liked" and "shared" hundreds of times.
"She had tremors really bad or Parkinsons," said Syphers. "She was shaking really bad. She had a walker and everything. She ordered the shredded chicken burrito and a senior drink. I asked if I could get her a drink and she said, 'that would be lovely.'"
Syphers went right to work. He helped the woman order, described the drinks that were available and even brought hot sauce to the woman's table where he struck up a conversation.
"She said 'you're a very kind man and that is the first time I've been treated that way,'" said Syphers.
"I said 'I don't treat anyone just like customers, I treat them like a family. I want everybody to be treated the way I would want to be treated.'"
Regular customers and other Taco Bell employees who know Syphers say this was not unusual. This is just part of his DNA.
"That's just typical everyday Zach. That's just the way he is every day," said Taco Bell general manager Cortney Meadows. "He always greets everyone as soon as they walk in the door. He's always above and beyond, super friendly."
"Zach is always a genuine person," said Taco Bell area coach Melissa Jones. "No matter what time of day he's here, no matter when it is, he's the same person."
Syphers always shares the same message with the people he meets.
"I'm too blessed to be stressed," said Syphers. "This is a stressful job but I know I can say 'I'm too blessed to be stressed' and keep saying it and make one person smile, it shares that I did my job as a human being."
Syphers says his pastor from Muncie Christian Center provided the inspiration for his "too blessed to be stressed" phrase, but he credits his mom, wife and co-workers for helping him become the person he is today, a man who serves up Taco Bell food and kindness in Muncie.