Shelter mom couldn't pay for groceries after her gift cards were declined. Then the cashier stepped in

Generosity isn’t necessarily reserved for the philanthropists. Ada Everingham, a cashier and a Newmarket resident, depicted what generosity means when she witnessed a mother returning empty-handed from the store. The mother, Gina Coleman, had hopped into the Longo’s store at 18319 Yonge St. in East Gwillimbury to grab some food for her toddler. But the moment she tried to use her gift cards, she realized they belonged to a different retailer. Saddened by the discovery, she was about to leave the cart full of items when Everingham stepped in, according to an October 24, 2026, report by Newmarket Today.

Empathy for the greater good

It unfolded like a movie scene where one character recognized and empathized with the feelings of the other character. Coleman and her infant daughter were staying at a Yellow Brick House shelter. She arrived at Longo’s expecting that her gift cards would pay the bills. On the other side, Everingham knew what it felt like to survive on gift cards and feel food insecurity, something that she had experienced as a child with her mother.

So when the two crossed paths, Everingham knew what she had to do to help the mother get groceries for her toddler. “I just thought I would have liked it if someone did that for me, too,” Everingham said, “Doing one good deed is not the end of the world, and seeing her reaction made me cry.”

Both were in tears

Coleman, too, was on the verge of tears when she received Everingham’s help. “I felt embarrassed. I don’t have the money for it. I thought, 'What do I do?'" recalled Coleman. “Then Ada said she would pay for it. People hear all these horrible things that go on, but there are wonderful things out there, too.” Coleman added that Everingham’s act was more than the money. It's also about healing the worth and worry one feels when they are going through hardships. Only a few people are sensitive enough to provide support, she said. She called Everingham’s act a “miracle.”

Random acts of kindness

This is the power of a random act of kindness. It is a win-win situation for both parties. According to RandomActsOfKindness.com, the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley conducted research and found that about 50% of participants feel stronger and more energetic after helping others, while reporting less depression and higher self-worth. Additionally, the research found that people who volunteer for a good cause have a 44% lower likelihood of dying early, an effect stronger than exercising four times a week.

Impact of generosity

Coleman later shared her experience with the store’s guest care team, left a heartfelt message, and ensured that Everingham’s gesture was recognized by the community. Looking ahead, Coleman is planning to move to Belleville, in a townhouse she received from the transitional housing program, on November 16. “My daughter and I would always have to sleep together, and now she has her own bed,” Coleman said.

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