Gina Rollins - A Thoughtful Consumer

Gina is a co-worker who I dine with on a weekly basis.  We’ve worked in the same department for nearly ten years, and I value the time I get to spend with her on our lunch “dates”.  Although I’ve always known Gina to be a thoughtful person, she constantly finds ways to impress me with her kindness.  This held true the other day while we were driving to one of our weekly lunches…

Gina and I were driving through a residential area of a housing development when we noticed two small kids standing near the edge of a sidewalk.  They were holding a sign (which was unreadable) and they were obviously trying to attract attention from passing drivers.  Gina slowed the car down and we both glaced towards the girls.  They were running a small lemonade stand.  Smiling, Gina stopped the car and asked if I would like a cup of lemonade on our way to lunch.  I said yes and she proceeded to walk up to the stand, reached into her purse, and turned to walk back to the car with two cups in her hands.  As she walked back to the car, the girls jumped with joy and they seemed extrememly happy.

Handing me a cup of lemonade as she climbed back into the car, Gina simply smiled before pulling away from the curb.  “Do I want to know why those girls were so happy?” I asked, figuring Gina had a secret she wasn’t letting on to.  “Well, let’s just say I recommened they build a bigger stand with a bigger sign, so that the next time we pass we’ll be able to see them better.”

Gina had apparently given the girls enough money to build a stand and a sign.  And, sure enough, the following week the girls had used the money exactly as intended.  A nice gesture, a good lesson for the girls in generousity, and another act of kindness from a good person.