Part-time Cashier Petey Bruce, #1048, Orlando, Florida, shares his story to inspire others to be confident in who they are.

Petey is a thriving associate who has overcome many challenges. He is from the Philippines and was born with no lower arms and only 1 leg. When he was an infant, his birth mother left him on the steps of an orphanage, wrapped in a blanket. She hoped that they could care for Petey better than she could. Five years later, he was adopted by a family in Massachusetts.

“Growing up, I faced challenges when people made fun of me for how I looked,” said Petey. “I never felt different from others, but I realized I was when kids would point it out.”

Petey relies on his faith during challenging times and feels he was born different for a reason.

“I try my best to stay positive to inspire others to be confident in who they are, no matter what they look like or where they come from,” he said.

In 2023, Petey moved from his adoptive parents’ home in Massachusetts to Orlando. He felt like something was missing in his life and set out to find his purpose, not knowing that he would find it working at Publix.

When Petey 1st got to Florida, he was homeless, living off friends’ couches and looking for a job.

“I met up with some friends to play pickleball, and they told me I should apply at Publix,” explained Petey. “I didn’t know if Publix would accept me because I look different from others, but I was treated just like family. I was happy when I got the job.”

Although being away from his family is hard at times, Petey enjoys being able to support himself. He also loves working for a company that allows him to get involved in the community.

“I feel like I have found my purpose at Publix,” said Petey. “I love helping people, and I get to do that every day.”

“One word to describe Petey is genuine,” said Store Manager Jordan Klarfeld. “One day, he was outside getting shopping carts and knelt to help a customer who had dropped coins. That customer came inside and shared his thanks with me. Those humble acts of kindness are normal for Petey. He leads with his heart.”

With the help of a prosthetic leg and the support of his team, Petey is training to become a customer service staff and hopes to one day be a customer service team leader. In his spare time, he enjoys playing pickleball and plans to continue sharing his story to show others that there is nothing wrong with being different.

Publix is a family — a big, 255,000-person one — with backgrounds from across the country and around the world. This article is part of a series featuring associates from a variety of backgrounds, age groups and cultures, and we love sharing their successes. We hope our articles help you learn a little more about your fellow associates who make up our Publix family.