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Man’s simple act of kindness at restaurant is moving internet to happy tears

Posted at 10:14 AM, May 12, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-12 12:23:00-04

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An act of kindness doesn’t have to be big to make a difference; something as small as a few minutes and compassion for another person.

All restaurants have their regulars but a Qdoba in Louisville seems to have more than its fair share.

Maybe because of the philosophy put into words by its general manager.

“It’s just not about making people’s food, it’s about what kind of positive impact can I have on somebody else’s day,” General Manager Jim Schroeder said. act of kindness Qdoba

Several weeks ago, a couple of regulars and an employee all crossed paths and maybe taught us all something about kindness.

Customer Dr. David Jones said, “We helped her get in because she was out in the parking lot so we helped her get in.”

Dr. Jones shot the video but the story really belongs to Ridge Quarles and one of the customers he’d gotten to know over his five and a half years at the restaurant.

Quarles said, “She didn’t get to get out of her house very often but whenever she did, she always told me, ‘Ridge, this is my most favorite place to eat.’”

We don’t know her name or her story. Quarles said he would see her from time to time, dropped off by a bus that helps people with disabilities.

“Sadly enough, she has to sit outside the restaurant until someone notices her or another customer that’s coming in has to let her into the building,” Quarles said. “By now, she’s actually been in so many times that we know what she likes to eat.” ne-035mo_cnna-st1-1000000002b1786a-480x270_750k-1-thumb

That would be a taco salad with hot sauce and cheese for lunch, a burrito with hot sauce and cheese for dinner.

Quarles said, “Had helped her through line and sat her out in the lobby, got her a drink and got her utensils and napkin and kind of started to walk off and I was like, you know, ‘Is there anything else I can help you with?’ And she turned around and she was like, ‘Sir, if you don’t mind could you help me eat?'”

Jones said, “He didn’t stop to think about, ‘Well, should I help her, should I not,’ he just went over, put the gloves on and started feeding her.”

He was so touched and impressed, he said he knew he had to get it on video.

Jones said, “I said, I don’t know, I think I’ll just send it out to some of my friends and say, ‘There’s still some good people in the world.'”

Quarles said, “I mean, she needs help and if I wasn’t going to do it, no one was. Who else is going to do it?”

A simple act that only took ridge Quarles a few minutes has had a lasting impact.

“It seems to me that if everybody in the world would just use the little simple gift that they have to maybe benefit somebody else, think what the world would be like,” Jones said.

Ridge has since left Qdoba to take a full-time job elsewhere.

Although he says in his time there, he’s has become very close to some of the regulars.

He’s attended birthday parties and was even invited to attend a wedding of two regular guests.