One of the hardest jobs is that of first responders. What they do for their communities is priceless and we should be very thankful for their dedication and hard work.
Firefighters Paul Hulling and Tim Young went by Route 130 Diner to rest and eat after fighting a fierce fire in a warehouse in North Brunswick, New Jersey, for more than 12 hours. There, they talked about their day, and the waitress who served them, Liz Woodward, overheard their conversation.
As they prepared to leave, Liz gave them a handwritten note, in place of a receipt, that said, “Your breakfast is on me today. Thank you for all that you do, for serving us and for running into the places everyone runs away from. No matter your role, you are courageous, brave and strong. Thank you for being bold every day.”
This kind gesture warmed the firefighters’ hearts. Hulling was so touched that he even started to cry. Liz’s act showed that someone appreciated their work, and that meant the world to them.
Though their gratitude was great, they also offered other things. On the contrary, Young decided to share the note on Facebook and called his friends to visit Route 130 Diner if they have a chance and tip Liz big if she happens to be their waitress.
In addition, they discovered that Liz had created a GoFundMe page to support her father, who is confined to a wheelchair. As it turned out, he was left paralyzed by a brain aneurysm and she was doing all in her power to gather money for a wheelchair-accessible van.
”He needs access to the outside world. He needs to see the world outside his hospital bed,” Liz wrote in the description of the fundraiser. Her initial goal was to raise $17,000, but after Hulling and Young spread the word, she managed to raise over $86,500.
”I don’t even know what to say to that,” Liz said, as tears of joy were rolling down her face. “That’s incredible — what a way to wake up today. I had no idea today was going to go like this.”
She posted an update on GoFundMe which read, “Our family has witnessed an outpouring of love & support from around the world, and I want to thank each and every one of you beautiful human beings for making this dream possible!”
Speaking of the incredible experience and her act of kindness which went a long way, Liz told WPVI, ”All I did was pay for their breakfast, and I didn’t think anything would come about it except they would leave with a smile.”
