When a 19-year-old Target cashier helped an elderly woman at his register, he had no idea the impact his actions would have.
Ishmael Gilbert woke up last week to find that a photo of him helping a woman count her change had gone viral on Facebook.
Gilbert, who works at the Glendale Target in Indianapolis, told the Indy Star he had no idea anyone was taking a photo of him, but that he was simply helping an elderly customer who was paying in coins.
Gilbert told the publication the woman was “all worked up because the line was getting longer and she was moving so slow” and she was “shaking” as she tried to count her change. So, he helped her.
Sarah Bigler was standing in line behind the woman and witnessed Gilbert’s small act of kindness. She took a photo of the moment and shared a message on Facebook that would quickly be seen by thousands.
“I watched him help her count her change, ever so tenderly taking it from her shaking hands,” she said. “I listened to him repeatedly saying "yes, mam" [sic] to her. When she asked if she had enough to buy a reusable bag, he told her she did and went two lines over to get one for her and then repackaged her items. Never once did this employee huff, gruff or roll his eyes. He was nothing but patient and kind.”
Bigler went on to talk about how she quickly realized her daughter was “being taught this valuable lesson by a complete stranger.”
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“When the woman was finished, the employee began ringing up my items and thanked me for my patience,” she said. “I then thanked him for teaching us patience and kindness by his treatment of that elderly woman.”
Her post has since been shared by than 27,000 times.
