A RANDOM act of kindness left Mount Gambier resident Ann Watts speechless over the weekend while out for her weekly grocery shop.
With a strict budget due to the rising cost of living, the 75 year old found herself short by around $20 at the cash register.
Feeling the pressure of the moment having left her credit card at home, Ms Watts was touched when two young people offered to pay the remainder of her shop.
“I looked up and knew immediately I would not have enough money,” Ms Watts said.
“I told the cashier to put aside the remaining groceries so I could race home and get my card to pay the rest.
“Before I knew it, I had one young man and another women behind him – who I had never met before – hand over money to pay the cashier.”
While it was a small gesture, Ms Watts said it highlighted the care of regional communities.
“In the end there was money going everywhere and the two – who had also never met each other – had gathered the remaining total,” she said.
“I told them I wanted their addresses so I could go back and pay them but they told me not to worry.
“I had never had anything like this happen to me before.
“I have done a lot for people over my time and it took me by surprise when these two strangers did something for me.
“After the shop I was emotional and just came home and cried.
“I have only lived in the town for around 12 months and it is amazing to see hope.”
Ms Watts said no matter the demographic of a person, she hoped others would do the same for somebody else.
“I was proud of those young people and I hope to see my grandkids do them same if they were in the position,” she said.
“I think living in a regional community also has a lot to do with it because people care.
“It is not all about drugs, crime and animals being treated badly, there are positive things happening out there as well.
“People should be focusing more on the positive rather than the negative.”
