We have seen how hectic things get at grocery stores these days due to the pandemic- people just rush to the supermarkets and local stores, hoarding up on stuff in hopes that they won’t need to make another trip outside of the house for at least a couple of weeks.
Especially senior citizens, who are more vulnerable, according to the World Health Organization, due to their often compromised immune system. Seniors try to visit the grocery stores as rarely as possible.
And that’s what an elderly man from Georgetown, Layne McKeel, has been trying to do during this time of crisis. As soon as he receives his disability check, he makes a trip to the local grocery store, stocks up on necessities and stays at home for as long as he can.
About a week ago, McKeel received his disability check by mail and was ready to spend it on food and essential stuff he needed. So, he visited the grocery store, where he filled his cart with $170 worth of groceries. What he didn’t consider was the fact that he had missed the senior discount hours. And that was when his heart sank by the cashier.
“When she said it was $173.00, I said ‘Oh no’ and I pulled my wallet out and I only had 140,” McKeel told WRCBtv.
The 17-year-old cashier had to inform the man about the price of his purchases, but she couldn’t bear the sight of him taking anything out of his cart, since all of it looked like essential stuff to her.
“It was all essential stuff so I was just like you know, and he was like what do I owe you? And I was like no, it’s fine, I’ll take care of it, it’s okay,” said Elizabeth Taylor, cashier at Fresh N Low in Georgetown.
The man was willing to remove some of the items from his cart, but Taylor was determined to help this man, who could risk his health if he were to make another trip to the store some other day.
The man didn’t know what to say- he was in shock. Having someone else pay for the remaining groceries was something that hadn’t crossed his mind, and he couldn’t believe someone would be so kind to him. Even more so, a young girl for whom even the smallest amount of money makes a huge difference.
“She’s just a little angel is what she was. You know, just the light of day,” McKeel said.
The girl explains the rationale behind her act of kindness and her words melt hearts.
“We’ve seen a lot of older people, and they’re all trying to buy groceries and a lot of places have ran out of stuff, and so the older people are kind of taking the downfall for that. I just try to give back when I can,” Taylor said.
We are proud of the new generation that is so compassionate and caring, and we hope more people follow this girl’s example and give back to society whenever the chance arises.
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