WAYNESVILLE — For Brittany Reed, it was one of those days. Between doctor’s appointments, sports practices and school, she made a spot decision: dinner would be McDonald’s.
But after placing her order in the Waynesville location’s drive thru, a backseat full of children crying, she realized she had forgotten her wallet.
“So at this point now I want to cry,” Reed said. She told News Center 7′s Sean Cudahy she told the cashier she would need to cancel her order and come back.
But that wouldn’t be necessary.
“Before I could say that he took out his wallet and said, ‘no worries,’ and paid for our food,” Reed said. “It took me aback and made me realize there’s so much good out there.”
Reed said she tried to protest, but the worker wouldn’t hear it.
“I just can’t even put into words how much it truly meant, just some random act of kindness,” she said.
The worker was a teenager named Wyatt, who Reed took a photo of, wearing a McDonald’s uniform with a sticker that reads, “I’m essential” – a nod to working throughout the pandemic.
In a statement to WHIO, Waynesville McDonald’s owner-operator Eric Godlove said, “We know these last few months have been a challenge for so many in our community, and we’re proud to have been able to provide a bright spot in this customer’s day. It’s crew members like Wyatt who make McDonald’s what it is, and we’re fortunate to have him on our team.”
Reed said she eventually made her way back to the restaurant to repay Wyatt (it took some convincing on his part, she said). She also had a message for the teen.
“You doing that meant so much to me and I never want you to lose that,” she said she told him. “Always be the person with a kind heart and a big heart.”