Liz left a note for two firefighters during her night shift. Little did she know, they would come back with unexpected news that would alter her life.
First responders have a challenging job. Their dedication and hard work for the community is invaluable.
After fighting a fierce fire at a warehouse in North Brunswick, New Jersey, for more than 12 hours, firefighters Paul Hulling and Tim Young decided to take a break and grab a bite to eat. They chose to visit Route 130 Diner. While discussing their day, their conversation caught the attention of Liz Woodward, the waitress serving them.
When they were ready to go, instead of a receipt, Liz gave them a handwritten message that said, “Today, I'm treating you to breakfast. Thank you for everything you do, for serving us, and for facing the challenges that others avoid. Whether it's your job or not, you are brave, courageous, and resilient. Thank you for your daily acts of bravery.”
The firefighters were deeply moved by this thoughtful gesture. Hulling was so emotional that tears welled up in his eyes. Liz's action demonstrated that their hard work was valued, which was incredibly meaningful to them.
They were extremely thankful, but they didn't stop at just expressing gratitude. Instead, Young took it a step further by posting the note on Facebook and encouraging his friends to stop by Route 130 Diner to tip Liz generously if she happened to be their server.
Additionally, they discovered that Liz had created a GoFundMe page to support her father, who was paralyzed by a brain aneurysm. She was working hard to raise funds for a wheelchair-accessible van.
Liz explained in the fundraiser description that he requires access to the world beyond. He longs to witness the world outside his hospital bed. Initially, Liz aimed to collect $17,000, but with the help of Hulling and Young's efforts, she successfully raised more than $86,500.
”I don't even know what to say to that,” Liz said, as tears of joy were rolling down her face. “That's incredible — what a way to wake up today. I had no idea today was going to go like this.”
The update she shared on GoFundMe said, “Our family has received so much love and support from people all over the world. I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you amazing individuals for making this dream come true!”
Liz shared with WPVI that she simply paid for their breakfast, not expecting anything in return except to see them leave with a smile on their faces.
For more on the story go to the video below. Inspiring, isn't it?
