Worker praised after closing cash register to help disabled man eat.

This is what being a good human being is all about. Helping one another in a time of need.

A McDonald's worker has been praised after he closed his register in the middle of rush hour in order to help a disabled man eat his food.
The worker, from the McDonald's store inside Union State, Chicago, and known only as Kenny, was secretly snapped helping the elderly man by Facebook user Destiny Carrero. Ms Carrero explained that 'Kenny' had decided to help after the man approached the counter in his wheelchair and took his food, before asking: 'Please help me.'

Writing on Facebook, Ms Carrero said: 'As I waited in line to order at McDonald's, an elderly handicapped gentleman wheeled himself over to the cashier in front of me. 'From what I saw, the gentleman may have had a case of quadriplegia, the same medical condition my uncle has.

'The man politely tried to ask the cashier something and it took him a few tries before either of us could understand he was saying "Help me please". 'Neither of us knew what help he needed, and the cashier suggested a few things before he figured out the gentleman needed help cutting and eating his meal. 'To be honest, I thought the cashier wasn't going to help, especially during rush hour in downtown Chicago, but to my shock, he shut down his register and disappeared from view - not to get away from helping him, but to wash his hands and put gloves on!

'The cashier came out from the kitchen, sat down, and began cutting the man's meal and helped him eat. 'At that point, the tears started to gather in my eyes. My heart was so appreciative for what he did. I couldn't contain my emotions in the crowded restaurant. 'This employee, who put everything on hold for this man, went above and beyond his responsibilities to help this handicapped customer out. That was the kindest and most humble thing I had ever seen.'

Since being posted online, the image has been shared more than a quarter of a million times. Facebook user Yolanda Garay-Beaudion commented on the image, saying 'you have me in tears here!' while Eva Cristine Aguirre-Beck added: 'I would even write to McDonald's about that. That employee deserves to be recognized by corporate.' It is not clear whether McDonald's have been made aware of Kenny's kind gesture, or if he has received any recognition for it.

This is not to be advertisement for McDonalds but for what we as human beings are to do.........love and kindness.

Can you do this?

When was the last time you stopped and helped someone? Tell ATS your story.

originally posted by: DeathSlayer
Tell ATS your story.

In all fairness, the type of person who would do something like this, isn't the type of person who would talk about it.

But thanks for a wonderful story. made me smile and tear up.

It's a shame that we think this is something remarkable. This is something I would do without hesitation and not think there was anything special about it.

Of course what this young man did was nice. He didn't have to do anything at all. But he did and it should be called being human instead of making headlines.

This is certainly not a jab at your story OP as I have posted many such things myself. I'm just getting a bit sadder each time something like this is heralded as exceptional.

It's a sign of the times I suppose that this stuff is more rare than the norm.

I try to help anyone I can with anything I can when I see the opportunity. People are shocked when you do that these days... What does that say about the state of things?

a reply to: network dude

In all fairness, the type of person who would do something like this, isn't the type of person who would talk about it.

Agreed. And they certainly don't do it to make headlines.

But it's still nice to hear these stories. S&F DS.

That man was raised right, that's for sure. He did what you are supposed to do.


When I was a bank teller there was a woman who always came in with a walker, she was very slow to move, and seemed pretty frail. She would come in late, and usually sit and rest until close and leave when we left. One night in winter, it was very cold and there was about a foot of snow on the ground. As we were leaving, I noticed there wasn't a ride waiting for this kind older woman. I told my co workers I would stay to make sure she got somewhere warm.

Well... It turns out she wasn't waiting for a ride, because one wasn't coming. A ride apparently never came, and I was just noticing. I asked her how she was getting home and to my horror she told me she walked everywhere. She was planning on walking home in a foot of snow, slowly with her walker.

I felt angry and sad. Angry that this woman was in a position in life where she had no one who cared enough to make sure she wasn't frozen to death on the side of the road while she spent her days walking alone and vulnerable, and sad that she seemed to be okay with this. I offered to have my grandmother drive her home since she only lived 2 or so miles away, she refused and said she would be fine, she did it every other day, and she would have to keep doing it anyways.

I begged her to please let us take her home, and finally she agreed.

That night I hugged her and told her that I cared about her, and I would never be happy knowing the position she was in.

My Grandma made some phone calls for her, and we kept in touch. A couple weeks later, this woman was provided a driver as some part of an assistance program, and never had to walk in the snow again. At least while I worked there, and had contact with her still.

I think about her sometimes. I miss making coffee for her, and bringing her candy while she hung out in the lobby.

It's crazy to think that there are people who overlook these things and either don't care or can't be bothered to help out.

Hero! Real service and responsibility. Kudos to him. What a compassionate soul.

originally posted by: network dude

originally posted by: DeathSlayer
Tell ATS your story.

In all fairness, the type of person who would do something like this, isn't the type of person who would talk about it.

But thanks for a wonderful story. made me smile and tear up.

The person who helped this disabled man did not talk about it. A witness did. And I agree there is no need to "prance around with our chest stuck out" bragging about this and the cashier did not do this but instead humbled himself and saw the need to arise and show his love and concern to help someone in need AND this is rare........very rare.

I can remember when I was released from the hospital and was walking to a large mall when I slipped while walking on crutches and landed on my back in pain while grabbing my leg as I groaned meanwhile numerous people stepped over me and refused to help. About five minutes later a man came and helped me to my feet and gave me my crutches.

Yea.... not very few people willing to help those in need. Many like to talk the talk but few walk the walk.

Great thing to read this morning!! I would like to give a shout out to Kenny's parents for raising this man with the proper things to be a good man........empathy, compassion & humility.

originally posted by: SlowNail
Hero! Real service and responsibility. Kudos to him. What a compassionate soul.

It is so easy to be a hero......be humble and help those in need my brothers and sisters.

I know most of us try...... and to those who don't ...... well ....... God bless you anyway.

I am not bragging.......just a little story....... I always pick up hitch hikers (I am a man) I would not recommend this for a woman (don't do it). And I drive them home or to the place they need to go and when they ask me how can they repay me? I tell them to do the same for the next person in need and to spread this message to the next person they help. Been doing this since the 70's....... I hope just once the message worked and was passed on.

There are good people left in this country. Help your fellow person , not even thinking of any rewards nor ramifications.
Peace...

Give this guy a thumbs up and I hope McDonald's recognizes him for his kindness. Little gestures can mean a lot and we should all keep in mind it may be us needing it.

This Summer, when the heat index was around 105, I was coming home from a Drs appointment, when I noticed a car on the side of the highway. I could see a baby seat in the back, so I pulled over and it was a woman and 2 kids, one of them only about 3 months old. Her car had broken down and they were sitting there getting hotter and hotter. She didn't have much choice. Either sit with the windows down and hope for a breeze or get out in the full sun with 2 little kids, on the side of a major highway. I pulled up and after talking to her for a couple minutes, her explaining that she had called her husband, I handed her my keys and said " You and the kids can go sit in the truck where it's cool and I'll wait out here till your husband comes". She looked amazed. I told her I didn't want her to be afraid of sitting with her kids, in a running vehicle with a stranger.

When her husband got there about 20 minutes later, I was leaning on the guard rail, reading on my phone and after hearing from his wife why they were in the truck and I was outside, he thanked me over and over. He even offered to pay me, but I explained to him that I hoped someone would do the same for my family if they needed it. We looked at the car together and it wasn't a side of the road fix, so we shook hands, the wife gave me a hug, he called a tow truck and I went on my way.

a reply to: DeathSlayer

Now that is a Happy meal.

Good story but not really that remarkable in my opinion. Not to downplay what happened here but this is basic human nature, to help others who are in need. We see it after disasters all the time, people coming together to help one another.

Good on this kid though, some people could learn a thing or two from this act of kindness.

Good story, and don't want to put a damper on it, but it really seems like a setup for a feel good McDonald's story. How did a quadriplegic man in a wheelchair get in to McDonald's in the first place? How did he get his meal to his table before coming back up to ask for help? Hell...how'd he even make it IN to McDonald's and pay for his meal in the first place?

If this guy was a quadriplegic he had to have had someone get him there, pay for his meal and bring it to his table. Did that person just duck out and leave him on his own?

Anywho....nice of the cashier to do so, but not really buying this whole story as some random occurrence.

a reply to: DeathSlayer

Great story and a great kid! Sometimes we don't give our kids enough credit.

Years ago, my daughter and I had just pulled into a parking lot and saw an elderly woman with a cane trying to make her way from the store to her car. It was raining and miserable out. She was having trouble stepping off the curb, traffic wouldn't stop for her, and a few people walked right by her -- looking but not helping. My daughter told me to stop the car so she could help. At the same time my daughter walked up to her, a couple teenagers came up also. These kids were totally punked out -- spiked hair, piercings, the whole bit. The boy stood in the middle of the lane with arms out to his side, forcing traffic to stop, while my daughter and the other girl helped the woman to her car. The woman tried to give them some money, but everyone refused to take it -- they all accepted a hug from her though! My daughter said the woman had tears in her eyes as she thanked them all again and again.

I like to think that there are more "earth angels" walking among us than we will ever know.

a reply to: DAVID64

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were my husband! (I know you're not though... my hubby never met a computer that he couldn't freeze up!) He did pretty much the same thing this summer -- a young mother with a couple kids broke down on the side of the freeway. He gave them some cold water and let them sit in his truck while he checked out the car, and let her use his phone to call her hubby. It wasn't something he could fix right there, so he drove the lady and her kids to a nearby Jack-in-the-Box, bought them some lunch, and left them to wait for her husband. Besides the heat (it was like 115), there have been so many cases of cars being hit from behind while pulled over on the side of the freeway that my husband didn't think it was safe for them to wait in the car. The husband called him later and couldn't thank him enough. My husband just said, "If it were my wife and kids, I would hope someone would do the same for them. One day you can pay it forward."

a reply to: Vasa Croe
I was thinking the same. One would think that if he had to have help eating, his helper would be there. Why was he without one then? Sounds like a set up. Then again, I'm cynical.

Every story touched my heart! Thank you.

C'mon.......I know there are more people out there that have a great story showing their love for humanity. Please share your story..... why? Because it is uplifting that's why.

In this crappy world with all the doom and gloom, we often need to hear positive stories from people who care for one another and not how pregnant one of the Kardashians are or some new perfume from some model or actress.

a reply to: DAVID64

Give this guy a thumbs up and I hope McDonald's recognizes him for his kindness. Little gestures can mean a lot and we should all keep in mind it may be us needing it.

I agree, McDonalds should give something to this guy to recognize him for his kindness. Unless this guy was a manager, I was surprised the on duty manager didn't tell him to get back to his register. The manager should also be recognized for allowing this guy to take time out at the register to give this guy help.

Helping people is always a good thing and I wish the world had more of it instead of the opposite. At any given second in any of our lives our circumstances can change on a dime and I could be the one asking help to eat so doing to others as I would wish done to me is a golden rule .