Teenage waitress given college scholarship after picture of her helping pensioner goes viral

The teen said it was something she would have done any day 

Chelsea Ritschel
in New York
Saturday 10 March 2018 13:21 EST
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A photo of a teen waitress cutting up an elderly diner's food goes viral (KHOU)
A photo of a teen waitress cutting up an elderly diner's food goes viral (KHOU)

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A teenager has been rewarded for her kindness with a college scholarship after she was photographed cutting up food for a 78-year-old diner who couldn’t do it himself.

18-year-old Evoni Williams works as a waitress in a Texas Waffle House in La Marque, Texas to save money for college.

During her shift, an elderly man who was on oxygen came in for a bite to eat.

When he was served his meal, a customer overhead him mention to Williams that his hands don’t work well.

According to a Facebook post uploaded by Laura Wolf, Williams immediately began cutting up his food.

Wolf’s post reads: “I don’t know her name but I heard this elderly man tell her his hands don’t work too good. He was also on oxygen and struggling to breathe.

“Without hesitation, she took his plate and began cutting up his ham.

“This may seem small but to him, I’m sure it was huge.”

Wolf concluded her post: "I’m thankful to have seen this act of kindness and caring at the start of my day while everything in this world seems so negative. If we could all be like this waitress and take time to offer a helping hand…”

Wolf’s post documenting William’s act of kindness quickly went viral - and thousands of people expressed their desire to thank and reward the teen.

According to KHOU, Texas Southern University has awarded the 18-year-old a $16,000 scholarship so that she can fulfill her dreams of studying business management

And the mayor of La Marque decided to show his gratitude for Williams as well - by declaring March 8, 2018 Evoni “Nini” Williams Day, a day in her honour.

Evoni Williams was awarded a scholarship for her act of kindness (KHOU)
Evoni Williams was awarded a scholarship for her act of kindness (KHOU)

Moved to tears by the response, Williams told KHOU: “I got my own day.

“It’s something I would do any other day."

As for Adrien Charpentier, the 78-year-old customer, he seemed pleasantly surprised he had ended up on “Facebooks.”

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