How a stranger's gift at Woolworths moved an Aussie pensioner nearly to tears
- Replies 20
In an age where the cost of living just keeps going up, many of us are holding onto our hard-earned cash a bit tighter.
And when every dollar seems to count even more these days, it's easy to think that random acts of kindness might be harder to come by.
But even in these times, there are still those with big hearts. Take, for example, the story of a grandmother who unexpectedly received a $30 voucher from a thoughtful stranger…
Karen Harding, a 54-year-old disability support pensioner from Sydney, was left stunned after a surprise act of generosity came her way, bridging the gap to her next paycheck.
According to her, she had just finished shopping and was taking the bus home on Wednesday morning, but as she got off at her stop, she spotted something someone had left behind.
‘When I got off the bus, it was sitting on the seat at the bus shelter,’ Karen said. ‘That kind person has no idea the appreciation I have towards them.'
On the bus shelter's seat lay a WISH Gift Card, valid for use at Woolworths, BIG W, BWS, Dan Murphy's, and EG Ampol fuel stations.
‘Honestly, I checked to make sure it wasn't a gift for someone else, as I know a lot of people that get that bus,’ she said. ‘But once I turned it over, I nearly cried.’
On the back of the voucher card was a message for a ‘random person’ from ‘another random person’. It said, ‘Just for today. I'll do something nice for someone and not get caught out or brag about it.’
After rushing home to confirm the gift card was legitimate and did, in fact, have $30 on it, Karen, a mother of four and grandmother of five, described this generous gesture as a ‘blessing’.
‘As I am only on the disability pension, it will be getting me a few things in Woolworths to get me through to payday. And I promise you I will be paying it forward to someone closer to Christmas,’ she explained.
Deeply moved by the kindness of a stranger, Karen shared her lucky news on social media.
She wrote: ‘You hear of this happening to people, but I never imagined I could be one of the lucky ones. [Got] off the 882 bus, and this [was] sitting on the seat. Truly appreciated, and thank you, kind person.’
Over 1,100 people have since responded to her post. One person replied, ‘That other random person is awesome for spreading some good vibes, good karma to them!’
Another also commented, ‘There are good people out there, what a lovely thought.’
Australian pensioners’ financial realities
While Karen's story warms our hearts, it's a glimpse into a bigger issue that many pensioners in Australia deal with daily.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 2.8 million Aussies age 65 and over are currently relying on some kind of pension.
A significant portion of them are trying to manage their lives with ever-increasing living and medical expenses on minimal financial support.
Just to give you an idea, the Age Pension pays out $1,096.70 per fortnight (approximately $28,514 per year) for singles and $1,653.40 (approximately $42,988 per year for couples).
Moreover, a report from the OECD in 2021 revealed that over 23.7 per cent of pensioners are living below the poverty line.
The collaborative database Expatistan approximates that in Australia, the cost of living stands at about $4,364 monthly for an individual and around $7,850 monthly for a four-member family, covering only basic necessities.
Despite these grim statistics, stories like Karen's remind us that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. These little acts of generosity can truly lighten the load for everyone. So, let's keep extending our empathy, compassion, and, yes, our wallets when and where we can.
Members, what are your thoughts on this story? Have you ever experienced something similar? How do you lend a helping hand or show kindness to others? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
And when every dollar seems to count even more these days, it's easy to think that random acts of kindness might be harder to come by.
But even in these times, there are still those with big hearts. Take, for example, the story of a grandmother who unexpectedly received a $30 voucher from a thoughtful stranger…
Karen Harding, a 54-year-old disability support pensioner from Sydney, was left stunned after a surprise act of generosity came her way, bridging the gap to her next paycheck.
According to her, she had just finished shopping and was taking the bus home on Wednesday morning, but as she got off at her stop, she spotted something someone had left behind.
‘When I got off the bus, it was sitting on the seat at the bus shelter,’ Karen said. ‘That kind person has no idea the appreciation I have towards them.'
Woolworths' WISH Gift Card designs feature themes for birthdays, Valentine's Day, Father's Day, and Mother's Day. Image source: Woolworths
On the bus shelter's seat lay a WISH Gift Card, valid for use at Woolworths, BIG W, BWS, Dan Murphy's, and EG Ampol fuel stations.
‘Honestly, I checked to make sure it wasn't a gift for someone else, as I know a lot of people that get that bus,’ she said. ‘But once I turned it over, I nearly cried.’
On the back of the voucher card was a message for a ‘random person’ from ‘another random person’. It said, ‘Just for today. I'll do something nice for someone and not get caught out or brag about it.’
After rushing home to confirm the gift card was legitimate and did, in fact, have $30 on it, Karen, a mother of four and grandmother of five, described this generous gesture as a ‘blessing’.
‘As I am only on the disability pension, it will be getting me a few things in Woolworths to get me through to payday. And I promise you I will be paying it forward to someone closer to Christmas,’ she explained.
Deeply moved by the kindness of a stranger, Karen shared her lucky news on social media.
She wrote: ‘You hear of this happening to people, but I never imagined I could be one of the lucky ones. [Got] off the 882 bus, and this [was] sitting on the seat. Truly appreciated, and thank you, kind person.’
Over 1,100 people have since responded to her post. One person replied, ‘That other random person is awesome for spreading some good vibes, good karma to them!’
Another also commented, ‘There are good people out there, what a lovely thought.’
The number of Australians aged 65 and over receiving income support has been steadily increasing over the past 8 years, from 2.5 million in June 2014 to 2.8 million in June 2022. Image source: Pixabay
Australian pensioners’ financial realities
While Karen's story warms our hearts, it's a glimpse into a bigger issue that many pensioners in Australia deal with daily.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 2.8 million Aussies age 65 and over are currently relying on some kind of pension.
A significant portion of them are trying to manage their lives with ever-increasing living and medical expenses on minimal financial support.
Just to give you an idea, the Age Pension pays out $1,096.70 per fortnight (approximately $28,514 per year) for singles and $1,653.40 (approximately $42,988 per year for couples).
Moreover, a report from the OECD in 2021 revealed that over 23.7 per cent of pensioners are living below the poverty line.
The collaborative database Expatistan approximates that in Australia, the cost of living stands at about $4,364 monthly for an individual and around $7,850 monthly for a four-member family, covering only basic necessities.
Despite these grim statistics, stories like Karen's remind us that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. These little acts of generosity can truly lighten the load for everyone. So, let's keep extending our empathy, compassion, and, yes, our wallets when and where we can.
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