Friendly customer service is one of the things that can instantly brighten your day.
But when grocery store employee Jordan Taylor showed kindness to one of his customers, he wound up changing two lives in a huge way.
"Something in the back of my mind was just like, 'ask if he wants to help you.'"
Last week, Sid Edwards and his teenage son Jack Ryan were shopping at Rouses Market in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Because Ryan has an autism spectrum disorder, his father says that a simple trip to the store can be a major ordeal.
Autistic people sometimes react badly to noise, bright lights, crowds, and over-stimulation. Edwards says other customers and employees "don't understand, they're not very accepting."
But one employee at Rouse's "went into Jack Ryan's world."
Edwards noticed his son watching Taylor stock orange juice in the coolers. At first he thought his son just wanted juice, but soon he realized Ryan was entranced by the job.
Taylor noticed it too. "Something in the back of my mind was just like, 'ask if he wants to help you," he later told a local news station.
Ryan was eager to help, and spent 30 minutes stocking shelves with Taylor while his father taped the interaction, which he called "a big deal" for Ryan.
One Good Deed Deserves Another
Posted by Delaney Edwards Alwosaibi on Monday, July 30, 2018
That might have been the end of this happy story, but Edwards shared his video with his Ryan's sister, Delaney Edwards Alwosaibi.
Alwosaibi was just as moved by Taylor's kindness as her father, and shared the video on Facebook, where she applauded the employee for his sweet gesture.
"This young man took the time to slow down and allow Jack Ryan to help for over 30 minutes, guiding him as he finished his task," she wrote.
"He could have ignored him. He could have made an excuse and said he couldn't allow him to help. Instead, he let him have his moment and in turn gave my family a moment we will never forget."
She added that there is "so much ugly in this world we live in," but the video was a reminder "that there are still great people out there."
Of course the video instantly became a viral hit, and has already been watched more than 400,000 times.
And since one good deed deserves another, she set out to pay Taylor back. After meeting him, she learned that he loves math, and dreams of becoming an educator.
Alwosaibi started a GoFundMe page for Taylor, hoping to earn $100,000 for his education. In just nine hours she raised $6,000, and by nine days she had surpassed her goal by raising $125,000.
A spokesperson told Fox News that Taylor's fundraiser was even the site's most popular cause at its peak last week.
"I was just happy that I could make someone else happy and make their day."
Donations are still pouring in for Taylor, who downplays his good deed. "I was just happy that I could make someone else happy and make their day," he said.
Taylor's mother, on the other hand, is not surprised that her son is being thanked and congratulated by people around the world.
"That's how he's always been," she said. "That's always been his nature, but I was extremely proud, really, really proud."
The Neighbors Federal Credit Union even gave Taylor a new car as a reward for his good deed.
As for Ryan, who has returned to the store multiple times to keep stocking shelves with Taylor, Rouse's has offered him a full-time job.
Another GoFundMe page has also been set up to help provide for Ryan's education and care.
"To me, I've always heard the things people do when no one is watching is their true character," Alwosaibi told Taylor about his good deed.
"And you didn't know how many people were going to end up seeing you do that, you just did it out of the kindness of your heart."
You can donate to Taylor's fundraiser for his education here.
And you can donate to Ryan's fundraiser for his education and care here.
