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Back on Aug. 11, Jenni Ware, 45, of Redwood City, Calif., was standing in line at Trader Joe’s with a cartful of groceries when she realized she didn’t have her wallet. Waiting behind the near-panicked hypnotherapist, was Carolee Hazard, 43, who couldn’t help but notice her fellow shopper’s potential jam.
Hazard tells the Mercury News, “She was clearly in distress.” So, without much thought, the Good Samaritan just simply paid the bill — all $207.29.
Knowing she would surely pay her back, Ware reluctantly accepted the extremely generous gesture. “I was at a low point that day,” Ware said. “I couldn’t believe it. It was a miracle,” she said.
However, this was no novelty act for Hazard. Apparently performing little random acts of kindness is her specialty. Her husband, Jon, a senior manager of engineering operations at Google, says she sometimes pays bridge tolls for strangers just to see their surprised faces. That actually sounds like a fun thing to do.
But this isn’t to say she does all good deeds without a conscience. When she returned home, Hazard updated her Facebook status to reflect her irresolution: Should she feel “very good” or “very, very stupid.”
While she waited to hear the thoughts of friends and acquaintances, Ware was busy tracking down her wallet at Draeger’s Markets. She promptly wrote out a check for $300 to her grocery store “angel,” with the suggestion that she take the remaining balance and enjoy a massage. It will likely come as little surprise that Hazard’s first thought was to return the extra $93, but first she consulted with her community, asking again on Facebook, “what they would do?”
Almost immediately ideas came rolling in, all suggesting she give the money to charity — they even got specific. But given the setting for the original good deed, there was one that seemed most befitting, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Again, as might be expected, Hazard matched Ware’s $93. Before she knew it, others were pledging the same amount. Even an 8-year-old girl who walked her mother’s $93 check over to Hazard’s house chipped in her own 93 cents.
The Trader Joe’s incident is proving wildly infectious; Hazard’s already received $1,309.90, not to mention an additional $1,000 in pledges. And, out of area friends are also donating $93 to their local food banks.
And while Second City Harvest is delighted over the recent flood of gifts, they’re even more moved by the lovely display of humanity. “It’s just amazing,” said spokeswoman Lynn Crocker. “The money is very significant. But on a personal level, to be so generous to a stranger, and the stranger reciprocates, it just warms my heart. It shows me that the majority of people are decent and kind and loving.”
While the recent strangers are now Facebook friends, they’re connected in a way they’ll likely remember forever, but even more, they’re wonderful reminders of all the good that goes on quietly everyday, and of the truly endless opportunity there is to do good out there.
To get in on the action, check out Feeding America to find the food bank nearest you.
Artwork courtesy of Second City Harvest
