Foster Mom Takes Three Kids To Store — She Gets To Cashier And Says ‘I’m Sorry’ For Being Unable To Pay

Sep 02, 2020 by apost team

Nicholas Tate was working his cash register at a Walmart in Newcastle, Oklahoma, back in 2017. Tate is known to be a talkative, friendly cashier. He often shows interest and compassion toward the customers — even when a foster mother came through with two unruly little girls and an infant.

Tate was working his evening shift on Friday night when the incident occurred, as CBS News reports. When the woman and her children approached Tate he simply asked: "Is it one of those days?"

The woman was visibly nervous and didn't want to hold up the line any more than she had to. She apologized to Tate before pulling out a WIC (Women, Infants and Children) card. A WIC card is a part of a federal program that supplies food to new mothers who aren't able to afford to provide food for their children.

She then explained to Tate that she had never used a WIC card before and was unsure about how it works. Tate swiped the card several times, but the card wasn't working. It was apparent that the woman had items that could not be paid for using WIC. That's when Tate decided to do something that most people would never do. Tate paid for her food.

The woman took to Facebook to express her gratitude towards Tate, and her story has since gone viral, being shared widely and getting picked up by news outlets from around the world.

Tate’s act of kindness just goes to show that no matter how dark and gloomy it may seem, there’s still good in this world.

CBS News reports that the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was fostering a baby, which is why she signed up for WIC. However, given that she’d only just signed up that day, she ran into problems at the cash register.

"She had a good amount of items and most of them went through, but she apparently didn't have the right formula and it wouldn't go through," Tate told CBS News in 2017. "We had to run a separate transaction for the rest."

The woman in question recounted the experience on Facebook, according to the news outlet.

"(There were) more customers, more grumbling and dirty looks as they moved to the other lane and I'm frustrated and trying not to cry," the customer wrote, according to CBS News. "At this point, a lady we know came up and asked why I was causing so many problems. I told her I was just failing as a foster mom because I can't figure out WIC and almost burst into tears right there."

Rather than causing a scene or simply turning this woman away, Tate remained calm and called his manager. When the card still didn’t work, Tate pulled out his wallet.

"I already had my card out at that point. I felt like God was telling me to pay for it," Tate explained. "The second it didn't work I swiped my card."

Tate proceeded to pay for $60 worth of groceries out of the kindness of his heart.

"When we feel like God is telling us to do something — how many times do we say no?” Tate asked. 

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“In that moment, without a doubt, he was telling me to pay, telling me these people are in need, to help them.”

In her Facebook post, which CBS News reports has been shared hundreds of times, the mother said that she was able to get into contact with Tate in order to thank him for his selfless act of kindness.

"I have been able to get into contact with this young man... and thank him again as well as his mom and tell her how incredibly blessed we were by her son and thank her for raising such an exceptional young man," she wrote. "Additionally multiple managers from Wal-Mart have contacted me regarding this issue to figure out who it was, wanting to help make it right and help however they can. As well as someone from WIC."

Tate told CBS News that he never expected that his story would go viral but that he’s ultimately glad that it’s spread across the internet.

"It made my heart really happy," Tate told CBS News. "It confirmed that I'm doing what God wants me to do."

Tate’s story has clearly made readers and viewers around the globe happy, too. Apost.com readers commented, thanking the young man.

“Good job Nic. I am on disability and I know very well what it is like to not have the money or help to get you through the month. Thank you for helping out,” Michael Fowler wrote.

“The empathy and generosity shown by that young man is inspiring. That is what a leader looks like!” Terry Brown added.

What do you think of Nick's actions? Let us know — and be sure to pass this story on to friends and family members.