Hungry customers ordering an afternoon snack at the Haverhill McDonald’s on upper Main Street Wednesday got a big surprise when cashier Jaydon Gierbolini told them to keep their money.
Thanks to the donation of several thousand dollars from a stranger, franchise owner David Yee and his daughter Christine Yee, gave away 356 meals to anyone who stepped up to the counter between 1:30 and 5 p.m. Christine Yee called the lively event “A Random Act of Kindness Day” and asked her customers to consider paying their gift forward in the spirit of the anonymous donor.
The Yees said they will never know why a man walked into their shop a few weeks ago and handed the cashier on duty a wad of cash saying little more than he wanted to pay for everyone’s meals until the money ran out.
“Initially my manager started using the cash to pay for meals but then our staff decided they should call me,” she said. “I was actually skeptical at first and became concerned the money might be counterfeit.”
After the Haverhill Police Department assured her the bills were in fact legal tender, Yee said she decided to deposit the cash and take a step back so she could take the time to make an event of the gift.
“I checked in with McDonald’s corporate headquarters and no one had ever heard of anything quite so generous,” she said. “We have customers in the drive-through regularly offer to pay for the car behind them but that’s just one order.”
She invited the familiar McDonald’s purple mascot, Grimace, to visit for the day and printed cards decorated with red and yellow hearts to give her unsuspecting customers after they ordered their meals. The cards read, “You have just received a random act of kindness. An anonymous Haverhill neighbor has paid for your McDonald’s meal today. We hope this brightened your day. If you feel compelled, pay it forward to someone in your own way.”
Yee said she had no idea how the day would unfold but decided to start the event at 1:30 p.m. after the lunch rush and to close down the cash register until the cards ran out. Word spread rapidly as customers told friends but Yee said no one took advantage by ordering larger than normal orders.
Bruce Berke of Pittsfield, N.H., was visiting friends in Plaistow and decided to take 11-year-old Junior out for a treat. He was beside himself when Giergolini told him his $26 tab was forgiven. “I will definitely pay this forward many times,” he said, smiling.
Kolbe Flematti of Newton, N.H., said he just happened to stop by the nearby AutoZone to top the oil off in his car when the clerk mentioned the give way. “They even let me order a bag of cheeseburgers home to my friends. It was such a nice thing they are doing.”
Pals Jacob Berardinangelo and Breckin O’Connor heard from friends at nearby Timberlane High School there was free food down the road. “We couldn’t believe it at first,” O’Connor said. “But we got down here fast.” They each walked away with packed Minecraft meal boxes.
Christine Yee said she and her dad are also taking part in the spirit of the day by making their own pay it forward contribution to the Ronald McDonald House charity.
“We were given a special opportunity to spread some kindness,” she said. “We hope everyone who got a meal for free today passes that good feeling of caring forward.”