Target Cashier’s Good Deed Goes Viral, Thanks to Mom
A Target customer’s note praising her cashier’s kindness to an elderly woman has gone viral, offering a “valuable lesson” about respect.
Indianapolis mother Sarah Owen Bigler posted a note on Facebook on Jan. 13 that has been shared a staggering 25,000 times about her experience waiting in line at the Glendale, Ind., Target last Tuesday, praising cashier Ishmael Gilbert, 19.
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“The person ahead of me was an elderly woman,” wrote Bigler, who had been shopping with her toddler son and school-age daughter, sharing a photo of the checkout line. “She was paying for her items with change and wanted to purchase each separately. Part of me, the part that had a long day at work, the part of me who had a 1 ½ year old having a melt down in the cart … was frustrated with this woman and the inconvenience she had placed on me.”
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Then, the mom of two continued, “I watched the young employee with this woman. I watched him help her count her change, ever so tenderly taking it from her shaking hands. I listened to him repeatedly saying “yes, mam” to her. … Never once did this employee huff, gruff or roll his eyes. He was nothing but patient and kind.”
Bigler’s daughter, Eloise, noticed Gilbert’s patience with the customer in front of them too. “She was standing next to the woman, watching the employee count the change,” the mom added. “I realized I hadn’t been inconvenienced at all. That my daughter was instead witnessing kindness and patience and being taught this valuable lesson by a complete stranger; furthermore, I realized that I too needed a refresher on this lesson … The world could use more people like him.”
Gilbert — who had only started working at the store a few days prior — told the Indianapolis Star that he had no idea anyone even took his photo, let alone shared it. The cashier, a father himself with a 1-year-old girl, did, however, say that he knew the elderly customer required more attention than usual. “She was all worked up because the line was getting longer and she was moving so slow,“ he said. "She was shaking.”
Gilbert said he also realized that the young girl in line behind the woman was watching. “It felt like a daddy-and-daughter moment a little,” he admitted. “She asked, ‘What’s that?’ I said, ‘That’s a penny.’ It felt good because that’s the kind of example I want to be for my daughter.”
And while he says the fact that others would note — and praise — his patience with the elderly customer is gratifying, he’s still surprised. “It just feels good to be recognized for good work,“ Gilbert explained. "But this isn’t something new. I treat all customers the same, the way I want to be treated.”
Top photo: Facebook/Sarah Owen Bigler
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