Have you ever bought a stranger's groceries?

Have you ever bought a stranger's groceries?

  • YES

    Votes: 36 31.3%
  • NO

    Votes: 62 53.9%
  • Thought about it

    Votes: 20 17.4%

  • Total voters
    115

old medic

Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Joined
Jul 28, 2020
Messages
1,915
I have several times over the years. Its always someone beside me in line with what appears to be minimal items. Yesterday I stopped to grab a 6 pack, and walked up to the register. A lady probably in her 70s, older clothes has 4 food items on the belt, her purse open with a few dollars and notice shes counting change. As the girl rang them up, I pushed the 6 pack over, said add this and paid for it all... The lady looked confused, asked me if I had just paid for her groceries, I smiled said Happy Thanksgiving. I got a hug....
 
Not exactly, no. I have paid with my CC for someone when the line we were in was CC only and she didn't realize until it was her turn at the register (she was right behind me so I was loading my card and paid for her, she gave me her cash).

I did buy lunch for a woman and her kid on a flight once as, another no cash situation stymied them, I declined her cash as I figured she needed it.
 
I have several times over the years. Its always someone beside me in line with what appears to be minimal items. Yesterday I stopped to grab a 6 pack, and walked up to the register. A lady probably in her 70s, older clothes has 4 food items on the belt, her purse open with a few dollars and notice shes counting change. As the girl rang them up, I pushed the 6 pack over, said add this and paid for it all... The lady looked confused, asked me if I had just paid for her groceries, I smiled said Happy Thanksgiving. I got a hug....
I love to hear about random acts of kindness. The world needs more of them. : )
 
Never directly like that. I do regularly buy cases of canned food for my church's food pantry and then work there handing out food every Tuesday. But plenty of other people contribute to the food pantry as well.
 
Never directly like that. I do regularly buy cases of canned food for my church's food pantry and then work there handing out food every Tuesday. But plenty of other people contribute to the food pantry as well.
Same here. Nothing direct but I support a food bank (Gleaners) and any kind of church program.
 
I've thought about it, but was never in line with anyone that looked like they were struggling or stuck without enough money to pay. Think I will though if that situation ever comes up...what a nice thing to do. Good karma, for sure.
 
I've thought about it a few times, but by the time I convinced myself, their transaction was complete. I've been thinking, since I'm in OMY and seeing more "random acts of kindness" on Facebook Reels or general videos, I'm wondering how I can "give" in the future. Good for you if you have in the past and present.
 
No, but I've thought about it many times. I still give (not cash) to the local food pantries several times a year.
 
Once. I was in line and the lady in front of me was paying with a check. The store wouldn't accept it since it was a new account and she was using counter checks. I told the lady that I'd take her check and I paid cash for her groceries. She gave me a check and I burned it in my stove when I got home.
 
I have had a couple of times when some one in front of me didn't have enough to pay for all their purchases. Now days with self check out not so much.
 
I’ve never been in that situation. However, I have bought homeless people meals when they are standing outside a fast food restaurant with a sign saying they are hungry. I asked what they wanted and went and bought the meal.
 
We have done this a few times, as a random act of kindness. One of the times was over 30 years ago, DW did it randomly for a women who broke down in tears because it meant she did not have to delay paying another bill. She moved from being a stranger to being one of DW's good friends over the years.

Another time the family we bought for immediately bought someone else's groceries in the store. It made an impression on the cashiers.

On two occasions people bought DW"s groceries when she was shopping, I guess they felt compassion on her shopping with a lot of kids under tow :) . DW asked them for their place of worship or favorite charity, and we sent a donation for the grocery amount with a letter honoring the people who paid for the groceries.
 
I "almost" did. I rarely enter a Walmart but there was this one time when I was looking for the little quiches in the frozen section and they were the only ones that carried them. While looking for the quiches, I heard a woman telling her young son that they could not afford what he wanted to pick up (food item) and that they only had x dollars and could only pay for y. I did not want to insult her by offering her money but I was trying to see where they were in the checkout line so that I could pay for her groceries. I lost her and didn't see her again.
 
Not usually, but we do regularly donate to our local food bank. However, earlier this year I was at the self check out and the very old guy next to me was having all sorts of problems paying for a few small items. Almost no one pays by cash or even carries cash these days where we live but his contactless card was prompting him for his PIN, which happens from time to time. The assistant was doing her best to help him but he couldn’t remember his PIN so after a couple more failed attempts I stepped over and paid using my phone.
 
No, but just remembered being in line at a drive-through coffee place - got to the window and they said my cuppa was paid for by the car in front. Really threw me, so I paid for the order behind me, probably because I don't expect not to pay my own way. Window person said they had a chain going - really made me feel good about Oregonians in the Salem area. Around the same period someone was hiding hundred dollar bills in random locations in the Christmas season - grocery stores, libraries. Newspaper got wind of it when several people called in and the bills all had the same message or stamp on them. Seems like maybe a thousand dollars or less would be reported, but that went on for several years - totally mystery giver.

Surprised to find the story easily:


 
Some years ago when I was visiting my family in England I went out to a shopping outlet with my sister and our Dad who was in his 80s. He was a smoker, and wasn’t very good at walking so he told us to go off without him while he sat outside at a table and had a smoke.

When we got back we saw that he had a coffee by him and he said that a complete stranger had put it on the table and wished him a good day. He was very pleased to receive this random act of kindness. They even left him with some sugar sachets and a stirrer.
 
I've thought about it and would like to do it but unsure how to go about it. Most people at the store I frequent use credit cards and usually swipe and authorize the card while the checker is still scanning the items. Ayear or two ago a lady in front of me was paying with cash but was short so I made up the difference. I got a very sincere thanks and a warm smile. I have paid for a police officer's meal at a restaurant I was at. I remained anonymous to him and we heavily donate $ to local food banks.
 
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I'm more deliberate I suppose. I know folks who need food assistance and shop for them and deliver. I never ask for the money.

I can't recall a random purchase at the store like old medic though I once gave a young woman with 2 little kids enough to buy pampers and formula when she asked for it a the store.

Very nice gesture old medic. Happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
 
I did this once, that I distinctly remember.

Gentlemen behind me, struck up small talk and he said something that made me laugh. I remember he was wearing a baseball hat with a ships name on it signifying his military service. I told the cashier to put order on my tab (he was getting lunch from the pay per pound bar) and I told him lunch was on me. Shook his hand and thanked him for his service.
 
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