A forgotten wallet created an awkward situation for a customer at a Rexburg, Idaho, McDonald’s. He had already placed his dinner order when he discovered he had no money or usable payment method with him.
He checked for his wallet and attempted to find another way to complete the purchase. When those efforts failed, the customer was prepared to leave without the hamburger and shake he had ordered.
An employee named Matthew had another idea.
Instead of letting the customer abandon his meal, Matthew covered the bill himself.
It was a small gesture, but the customer did not forget it.
He planned to repay Matthew and made an effort to get his contact information before leaving. When he tried reaching Matthew the following day, however, he was unsuccessful.
That could have been the end of the story.
It wasn’t.
The customer contacted East Idaho News and described what had happened. He wanted the employee to receive some recognition for helping someone he did not know.
The news organization eventually located Matthew at the restaurant and arranged a surprise for him.
The recognition came through the outlet’s Feel Good Friday feature, which highlights people whose actions have made an impression on others. Matthew received restaurant gift cards as well as several additional presents from the program’s partners.
What makes the story stand out is how little Matthew appeared to be seeking in return. There was no publicity involved when he paid for the meal, and he had no reason to expect that the customer would later contact a news organization.
But the customer remembered.
A meal that could have ended with an embarrassed customer walking away instead became a story about an employee who was willing to step in when someone else was stuck.
Matthew’s decision may have cost only the price of a hamburger and a shake. The customer clearly felt it was worth much more than that.
