The retail behemoth yesterday delivered Chris and Karen Lynch a $500 store gift certificate. More importantly, the company said it would review the family's request to hook up to their sewer line to a neighboring Wal-Mart store so the Lynches can expand to accommodate the baby boys, born Monday.
``We seldom receive requests of this type, so we need to carefully examine all possible impacts of our decision,'' Wal-Mart said in a written statement. ``We hope that we will be able to help the Lynches meet their housing needs.''
The change of heart came after yesterday's Herald reported that the Lynches – who now have five children and a cat – were given the snub by Wal-Mart executives.
The family wants to build a second-floor addition with three bedrooms and a bathroom. But state law prohibits them from expanding their septic system. The only other option is to hook up to Wal-Mart's sewer line, which runs near their home and into Brockton.
After repeated requests, Wal-Mart managers at the local and regional levels told the Lynches no, never providing a reason. And honchos at the company's Arkansas home office never even responded to the couple's request – until yesterday's Herald article.
``Unfortunately, this issue is much more complex than most might think,'' the Wal-Mart statement said. ``While we would like to do everything possible for the family, there are potential legal and other concerns that will require that we take a little more time for review.''
Wal-Mart said it will make a decision within a few days.
``Why couldn't they have done this months ago? Why didn't they work with us?'' said Chris Lynch.
``I've worked for Wal-Mart for a lot of years and we always do what's right,'' said manager Richard Jukkola, who brought the gift certificate to the couple's home.
Karen Lynch, 33, is expected to return home today, and the infants will go home in the next few weeks. The couple has a 4-year-old son, Devin, and a cat, Pepper.
Karen and Chris Lynch say they will make do in their cramped home, which has only 750 square feet of living space, until they can afford to buy a bigger one. Their first choice is to build an addition.
``We like the town. It's cheaper to build than to move,'' said Chris Lynch, who works two jobs.
