One simple act of kindness by a South Jersey waitress had ripple effects that were felt around the world – literally.
24-year-old waitress Liz Woodward served two fighters who were just off what could have been one of the hardest shifts of their lives. Before they could leave, she slipped them a note they’d never forget. Liz never expected to hear back from them again, but they’d end up popping back into her life and changing it in a way she never saw coming
The night of July 23 started like any other night for Liz. The 24-year-old was waiting tables on the night shift at the 130 Diner in Delran, New Jersey.
As 5:00 a.m. rolled around, two firefighters stumbled into the cafe and one of them asked for the biggest cup of coffee they had. Seeing as a massive warehouse fire in nearby North Brunswick had been on the biggest news of the day, she automatically assumed that they were coming off one of the hardest shifts of their lives.
One of the firefighters named Paul Hullings had been on the scene for 12 hours trying to put out that fire, while Tim Young, the other firefighter had been pumping water off location. When they asked for their bill, Liz did something that caught the two fighters off guard, and they didn’t know it yet, but her family history had a lot to do with it.
When the two firefighters came to pay for their meal, they found a pleasant surprise. Instead of being handed a bill, Paul and Tim were given a note.
The note said, “Your breakfast is on me today – Thank you for all that you do; for serving others & for running into the places everyone else runs away from. No matter your role, you are courageous, brave, and strong. Thank you for being bold every day. Fueled by fire and driven by courage – what an example you are. Get some rest!”
Touched by the waitress’ gesture, Tim decided to post it on social media, and it went viral. What Tim and Paul didn’t expect was that Liz, behind her generous gesture, also needed help.
“My friend Paul Hillings went with the Hainesport station 391 as part of Burlington County tender strike team to the warehouse fire in north Brunswick… After twelve hours fighting the fire and supplying water, he hadn’t eaten so I took him out for breakfast to the Route 130 Diner in Delran.”
“Well, the waitress overheard us talking and this is what she set down instead of the bill. Such a selfless and kind act. I definitely urge my friends to make a trip out and support the business, and if Liz happens to be your waitress, tip big.”
According to AWM:
In addition, Tim learned something about Liz – she was in the process of raising money to afford a wheelchair-accessible van so she could transport her paralyzed father to front doctor’s appointments and other meetings.
Because the firefighters wanted to pay it forward to their generous server, they recruited the help of more than two hundred people who all donated their hard-earned money toward a fundraising campaign for the wheelchair-accessible van.
Liz could not believe that her simple generosity of paying for the firefighters’ meal would be repaid more than ten-fold by generous strangers who heard about her good deed. She had posted a goal of raising 17,000 to help afford the van but was blown away by the generous support of hundreds of people who gave more than $56,000 toward her goal in just three days’ time.
Learn more about this beautiful story in the video below!
Source: AWM
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