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Volunteers
The Grateful Stranger
One day in late July, seven volunteers from Plymouth, WI helped pass out flyers for an upcoming VBS at Christ Lutheran church in Chalmette.
Afterward, they went to Armand’s in St. Bernard Parish for sandwiches and Po’ Boys, all wearing matching shirts that said “Jesus = cool.” At the restaurant, everything seemed normal; they ordered, ate and asked for the check.
However, when they received it, the check said “taken care of.” The volunteers went up to the register to thank the restaurant, but when they sat back down their waitress corrected them.
Pointing, she said “the man who sat at that table over there paid for you. He wanted to leave before you got your check so you wouldn’t know who it was.”
The group stared at each other in surprise, until they realized their T-shirts had given them away to the grateful stranger. He was not the first person to express his appreciation to RAI’s volunteers. Locals frequently offer friendly waves, greetings and tokens of gratitude. The nation’s kindness has certainly made an impact, but people of the Gulf Coast have made their own impression on the volunteers.