Yahoo Finance Elderly shoppers' grocery bills picked up by mystery 'angel'
American actor Tyler Perry has picked up the grocery bill of every elderly shopper during senior shopper hour at 73 supermarkets, as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Thousands of elderly shoppers across 44 Kroger supermarkets and 29 Winn-Dixies in New Orleans, Atlanta and Georgia were told their bill had been picked up by an “Atlanta Angel”.
“Senior and higher-risk Kroger shoppers in metro Atlanta did receive a nice surprise at the register this morning when they learned Tyler Perry had paid their grocery tab in full,” Kroger supermarket spokesman, Felix Turner, said.
“We would like to join our customers in thanking Mr Perry for his kindness and generosity during this unprecedented pandemic.
“It was truly a pleasure to see our customers fill with joy and gratitude as the news spread throughout 44 stores across metro Atlanta.”
It comes just days after the actor left a US$500 tip to each server employed at US restaurant chain Houston’s while picking up a takeaway order, according to TMZ.
In total, 42 workers were tipped around US$21,000 in total, while they await their stimulus cheque from the US government, which could take around 20 weeks.
Aussies offer to shop for the elderly
Despite the major supermarkets introducing ‘elderly hours’ so senior Australians can shop uninterrupted - and with a better chance of accessing sold-out stock - older Aussies are still missing out.
One elderly woman broke down in tears inside a Coles supermarket when she spotted bare shelves, stripped of products by panic-buyers.
It’s prompted younger Australians to offer help, by dropping a note in their apartment block elevators or neighbouring letter boxes.
"I will be popping notes in my street's mailboxes to give neighbours my mobile number in the event of them having to self-isolate and needing someone to leave a loaf of bread or some milk on their doorstep if they cannot leave their homes," one woman told the SMH.
"Our senior Australians need to feel that they are a part of the community - or street in my case - and that we all have each other's back.”
One woman said a Coles manager had paid for her father’s grocery bill.
“My dad couldn’t pay for his groceries last night because his card had expired,” Angela Sedran said in a LinkedIn post.
“The Coles Maroubra store manager paid for them himself. I’m blown away by his kindness! Thank you!”
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