He paid off every parent’s drive-thru meal — and the relief in their eyes is heartbreaking

Parents are often the last to ask for help and the first to give it — they work late, budget tightly, and make decisions that prioritize their children over themselves. For many, the daily cost of showing up physically, financially, and emotionally adds up quickly. One man, Jojo Ozougwu, decided to acknowledge that effort and show his appreciation for parents. It led to some of the most tear-jerking reactions. In a video shared on his Instagram page @jozougwu, Ozougwu walked up to a fast-food drive-thru and asked the staff, "Can I pay for every parent for the next hour?"

When they asked, "Are you sure about that?" he said, "I'm positive. Let's do it." Ozougwu greeted every driver and asked quietly whether they were a parent. If they said yes, he covered their meal without hesitation. When one woman pulled up to the drive-thru, he wished her a "Happy Parent Appreciation Day." She shared that she was a single mom who had two boys. "I was married for 30 years. He wanted out, never came back, so I raised them by myself. But it's a blessing, I got my boys. That's what I wanted," she said. She even asked for a picture with Ozougwu, moved by his gesture. Another parent asked him, "It's paid for, you said?" When he nodded, she was touched and thanked him profusely.

The video shows moments that highlight how deeply people can feel seen by something as simple as having their dinner bill covered. While Ozougwu did his bit to appreciate some parents through his random act of kindness, he also highlighted how parents give their all to take care of their children — for which there is often no recompense. A 2023 survey from the American Psychological Association found that 33% of parents reported experiencing extreme stress within the last month, compared to just 20% of adults without children. Nearly half said their stress felt completely overwhelming on most days. The numbers reflect a constant pressure, but the faces in the video make it real.

The post gained a lot of attention, and many appreciated the recognition of how much parents carry. @ann_32720 wrote, "I'm a single mother... it's hard but so rewarding. You made my day and the other parents'. Beautiful thing you did."@_nartj said, "This is what should go viral — doing good for people and letting them know they're appreciated." @daniii.520 commented, "You're a pure soul, brother. We need more people like you. There are a lot of single mothers who need this type of support."

@st0len_username added, "This act makes me want to help change the world. Well done." @1_22.am wrote, "I wish I had the money to be this kind of generous—not to see the look on their faces, but because it just feels so good to give. I help out however I can—physically, emotionally, mentally. Thank you for your videos, man. Thank you." @ayrnsmokes chimed in, "I really love videos like this. Even if it's just for content, it's really nice that some people have the money to do things like this and make somebody else's day."

You can follow Jojo Ozougwu (@jozougwu) on Instagram for more kindness videos.