I’m sitting here on my lunch break writing this as I just witnessed it.

For context, I’m a Shift Supervisor for a retail drug store chain in the USA. Currently the USA government has shut down, unfortunately it’s impacting people who are on government assistance. One form of government assistance in the USA is food stamps. A certain amount is put on a card, called an EBT card, and one uses it similarly to a debit card to buy food. This day in particular is my store’s monthly Senior Discount Day. If you are above a certain age you get a discount.

I’m helping ring up when an old man (OM) comes up with a cart full of stuff. He graciously reminds me of his senior discount. I’m ringing him up. We get into some small talk while I’m ringing him up. I notice a line forming so I call for back up. When I’m almost done with OM the next customer in line is a mom with 3 kids. One is a newborn the other 2 are boys appearing to be 4 and 6. The kids are carrying most of the food. My co worker calls next in line and the mom and kids pass by OM. OM comments what a cute baby. I finish ringing up OM and he moves to the side to check his receipt. He comments to the 2 boys that they are being good big brothers.

Mom gets ready to pay with her EBT card. Card declines. She tries again. Declines. She tells my co worker to take out a box of cookies. Declines again. Mom says she’ll just use her debit card. OM steps in and says he’ll pay for it. Mom assures him that it’s not a problem it’s only ($30)…. OM interrupts, telling her he doesn’t care how much. The store did something good for him today so he’ll do something good for someone else. He tells co worker to ring in the box of cookies. Co worker decides to add senior discount since a senior is buying it. The mom starts wiping away tears. OM tells the 2 boys to continue being good big brothers.

After the line clears I confirm with my co worker what happened. He fills me in on the details.

With the political circus happening in the USA right now. It’s nice to see people helping each other.

Image for representation only; not the actual photo