At a Hainesport, New Jersey diner, it was simply a random act of kindness when waitress Liz Woodward decided to pay for the meals of two weary looking firefighters.
She was merely hoping the gesture might ease their burdens for just a bit. But she would have never expected what they would do in return for her generosity. Tim Young and Paul Hullings had just fought with others to douse a huge warehouse fire. They were exhausted, and they needed some coffee and some breakfast.
On their bill, Liz wrote: “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.” After posting about the experience on social media, the firefighters learned more about Liz.
They learned that she had been trying to raise money through a fundraising page to buy a specialized van for her dad, who is a quadriplegic. The goal was only halfway there. But when the firefighters mentioned it on their own media, that goal of $60,000 was reached pretty quickly. “I’m at a loss for words,” said a very happy Liz.
