Another customer went to a nearby ATM and returned with cash.
One woman who had been shopping with her teenage daughter quietly paid for a package of chicken and several other items.
The contributions came from people of different ages and backgrounds.
Some had plenty of money.
Others clearly did not.
One elderly man opened his wallet, studied the bills inside, and handed over two dollars.
“I wish I could do more,” he said.
Theo looked at him.
“Two dollars is more than zero.”
The man later told Denise that he had repeated those words to himself all the way home.
Within minutes, enough money had been collected to cover the remaining balance.
But the customers didn’t stop there.
When they realized Eleanor had already put several necessities back into her cart because she thought she couldn’t afford them, they offered to help restore those items.
The manager approved the transaction, and Denise carefully rang up the groceries.
