Customers moved by grocery store letting them to leave without paying due to power cut respond wholesomely
Technology has become the forefront of our lifestyles today. Every space and aspect of living uses technology for enhanced results. However, nothing tops the magic of humanity and kindness. The same was exercised by shoppers at the H-E-B grocery store in Texas, per The Washington Post. The store’s power was cut due to the winter storm and shoppers were distressed as they made their way through aisles and sections. The unexpected power led the management to allow shoppers to leave without paying for their items to avoid inconvenience. However, the people had an additional thoughtful gesture, per customer Tim Hennessy.
Hennessy recalled the time there was a statewide emergency and the grocery store was filled with customers out to purchase essentials. When the lights went out, the already worried customers had the added strain of waiting in the checkout line with an unprecedented course to follow. With people and carts waiting in line, Hennessy thought they’d either have a long wait ahead of them or would have to leave the store without their items, per CNN. Several theories crossed his mind as to what the manager would do. A few moments later, the customer spotted others leaving with their bags full and a smile on their face.
Talking about his experience, Hennessy penned a tear-jerking post on Facebook. He revealed that when he arrived at the checkout line, the cashier asked them to leave with their items without paying. “At first, Deb and I were a bit confused and I asked: ‘How or who do we pay for our groceries?’ We probably had a couple of hundred dollars worth of groceries. She said, ‘Just go ahead and drive home safely,’” he wrote. The lights were still out, what solution did the store then come up with? “(I saw) all these people going out with carts, no bags … and it kind of hit us. Wow! They’re letting everybody leave without asking who they are, how much money do you have, nothing,” Hennessy exclaimed.
The customer even recalled tearing up at the situation due to the store’s heartfelt gesture at a time of grave need for hundreds of people. Not just him, but many others were moved by the response of kindness from the manager. What followed was several customers paying it forward so that the manager’s kindness would not go in vain. Several customers came together in the parking lot to move and load the items for each other and help out in any possible way. “This older woman looked like she was in a (panic) and she couldn’t get her car moving with the ice. She looked a little bit distraught, so I knocked on her window and three or four of us guys actually pushed her and got her moving,” Hennessy shared.
He saluted the good in the people and wrote, “This is the America that I know. Despite all the negative we hear/see being reported daily in the news. America and most Americans are still kind, thoughtful, generous and caring. I salute H.E.B. for the kindness they showed us, the thoughtfulness they showed us, the generosity they showed us, and the caring that they showed us.” As an additional way of paying it forward, Hennessy wrote a check for the company for charities they’d like to donate to. “Hopefully with this genuine act of kindness by H-E-B and thousands just like this across this country that happens every single day, America is reminded why God put us all here.”