NEW ORLEANS — Lori Freehling fully expected to pay for her groceries Wednesday morning.
So when she found out at the register that her total was being covered by renowned actor and director Tyler Perry, a New Orleans native, Freehling couldn’t help but shed a tear or two.
“She said, ‘He just paid for your groceries as his random act of kindness,’ “Freehling wrote in a Facebook post. “ ‘Really?’ I said as my eyes teared up, thanking her as she handed me my receipt. Thank you Tyler Perry!”
CONFIRMED: @tylerperry paid for all groceries during Seniors Hour at 44 Atlanta-area @Kroger stores. Look at these faces -- you can see the smiles and tears through the masks! pic.twitter.com/MIm7F5Hssr
— Brendan Keefe (@BrendanKeefe) April 8, 2020
Call it a hometown discount.
Perry paid it forward at 29 Winn-Dixie stores across Louisiana and at 44 Kroger stores in Atlanta, where Perry resides, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The act of charity was held during the stores’ senior hours, when older citizens who are more susceptible to COVID-19 are able to shop by themselves.
Floored by the generosity, Freehling took the money she would have spent and followed Perry’s example.
“To pay it forward, I made a donation in your honor to Second Harvest Food Bank for what would have been the cost of my groceries today,” Freehling wrote.
👏 @tylerperry paid it forward and purchased groceries for nearly 3,000 senior shoppers today at Kroger stores across Atlanta. You can see how much this means by the look on their faces. Thank you, Tyler, for your generosity! 💙 pic.twitter.com/L57nfNqm3g
— Kroger (@kroger) April 8, 2020
Perry, the mind behind the popular “Madea” movies, is no stranger to generosity. Perry paid off nearly $500,000 in layaway balances at Atlanta-area Walmarts in 2018.
And he’s also not the only New Orleans native to give back during the pandemic. Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning donated an undisclosed amount to United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s Hospitality Cares Pandemic Response Fund, according to WGNO.
Read more at usatoday.com