Teenagers often get a bad rap. They’re told they’re lazy, untrustworthy, disruptive, and rude. While there certainly are many teenagers out there (and adults, too) who fit that description, there are just as many out there who are hardworking, kind, and considerate members of society.
One teenaged girl from Georgetown, Tennessee, has proved just that.
Teenager Buys Groceries for Senior Citizen
Elizabeth Taylor is a 17-year old cashier at her local Fresh n’ Low supermarket in Georgetown. Like many grocery store workers during the coronavirus pandemic, she has seen how hard this time has been on senior citizens. (1)
“We’ve seen a lot of older people, and they’re all trying to buy groceries and a lot of places have ran out of stuff, and so the older people are kind of taking the downfall for that.” (1)
Despite already putting herself at risk by going to work, the young woman is still always trying to think of ways to give back and help more people. (1)
She got her opportunity when senior shopper Layne McKeel came into the store. McKeel had been mostly housebound since the lockdowns began, and was finally able to venture out to the store after his disability check came in the mail. (1)
He went around the store picking up the food and supplies he needed, but when he arrived at Elizabeth’s check-out, he found he was short $33 of his $173 bill. Dismayed but with nothing he could do about it, he started to reach for a few items to return them to the shelves. (1)
That’s when, much to his surprise, the teenager told him not to put anything back. She was going to pay for his entire bill. (1)
“It was all essential stuff so I was just like… you know… and he was like ‘what do I owe you?’ And I was like no, it’s fine, I’ll take care of it, it’s okay,” (1)
McKeel was extremely touched by her kind gesture, calling her an angel and a light in a dark time. (1)
Read: Zookeepers Self-Isolate In A UK Wildlife Park For 3 Months To Take Care Of Animals
Youth Helping the COVID-19 Cause
Elizabeth is just one example of some of the amazing things that young people are doing to make this global pandemic easier for others.
- Nadav Weiss in Jerusalem teamed up with some of his friends to launch The Doing Good Map, a map that allows people from all over the globe to fill out a questionnaire and report a good deed they either saw, did, or had done for them.
- 13-year-old Paul Coschignano from Eastchester, New York used his 3D printer to make ear guards to relieve the pressure caused by the elastic bands used to hold medical staff’s face masks in place.
- A group of teenagers from Collingwood in Ontario, Canada, went shopping to buy supplies to make care packages for the elderly people in their neighborhood who were too afraid to go shopping.
- Teenager, Daniel Goldberg, created a website so he, along with his friends, can deliver meals to the elderly.
These are just a few examples of the wonderful things that young people are doing to help out and lift the spirits of others during these challenging times.
What You Can Do
If you are the parent of kids and teenagers, help them brainstorm what little things they can do to spread kindness and support in your community. It doesn’t have to be big. Even small things like leaving positive message rocks or chalk drawings around your neighborhood, calling to check in on your elderly neighbors, or participating in a birthday parade can go a long way to cheer people up.
Most important of all, you can remind your teen that the best thing they can do is stay home, practice physical distancing, and wash their hands.
Keep Reading: Alabama Man Who Mows Lawns for the Elderly Now Delivers Free Meals and Supplies to People Who Can’t Leave Their Homes
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