http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11329257&ref=NZH_FBpage
Act of kindness has Facebook abuzz
By Jessica Roden - NORTHERN ADVOCATE
Ms Mclean did not want to been seen to be bragging, or worse get in trouble with her boss.
However, Northern Advocate editor Craig Cooper witnessed Ms Mclean's generosity, which he wrote an editorial about for the following day's paper.
The article was widely shared on Facebook with plenty of comments praising Ms Mclean, though at that stage her identity was unknown.
Last Monday, during a busy lunchtime, an elderly woman came through Ms Mclean's checkout and struggled with her Eftpos card. "Her card declined the first time and she kind of got a bit of a fright," Ms Mclean said.
With originally around $50 worth of products, the elderly lady proceeded to take items out of her trolley, though her card declined again.
"She was getting quite upset about it so I just handed her my [Eftpos] card," she said.
Though the total was only $17.30, the elderly woman was obviously touched by the gesture. "And then she gave me a hug," Ms Mclean said.
"Afterwards I just felt really good," she said. "I just was really happy that I had put a smile on someone's face."
The elderly woman was very genuine and the items in her trolley were obviously essentials, Ms Mclean said.
"I remember thinking that it's things you would need."
Ms Mclean had no plans to tell her bosses about the gesture as she was worried she would get in trouble because technically she was serving herself. On the contrary, they were very happy and the editorial now hangs in the office.
"They just said 'good on you' and 'well done for helping out an elderly person'," Ms Mclean said.
She had no idea it was in the paper until a customer told her about it and friends tagged her in the post on Facebook. The story was shared 594 times on Facebook with lots of people praising Ms Mclean.
"It's wonderful to hear such a positive story and also realise that there are still some caring people out there," wrote Cherie Aplin.
"Well done young lady, what a beautiful heart you have," wrote Leigh Williams.
The public response was out of the blue, Ms Mclean said.
"I wasn't really expecting this at all."
I remember when I was a university student and flatting with 4 others, we took turns to shop every fortnight. We collected our food money in cash as it was 1970s, and there was no ETPOS. There was often we bought too much, and the check out had to take back the whole lot of shopping and recheck out our shopping. I asked couldn't they deduct some items, and we were told no.
I can imagine how embarrassed and anxious the old woman was. Good job Rebecca.
http://mondaymellowyellows.blogspot.com.au/
Stay mellow with yellow!
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