Stay-at-home mom drove to Chick-fil-A for a meal — but what she got at the window was so much more

Everyone has bad days, and during that time, all one needs is a little support or a nudge that helps them keep going with a smile on their face. Kindness can do wonders in such situations, especially for someone in a transitional phase in their life, like young mothers. A woman happened to experience a similar temporary rough patch while managing her two little kids. The resident of Phoenix, Jessica Hilyard—who goes by @__jess_hilyard on TikTok—decided to take her little ones out following a hard time staying home. Little did she know that a stranger would show her unexpected generosity, making her feel better not only as a new mom but also on a human level. In an emotional video, she shared how an employee at the local Chick-fil-A in Norterra made her day with a surprising reveal, per People magazine.

Hilyard opened up to the publication about how she was feeling stuck at home on a typical Wednesday afternoon. The stay-at-home mom was exploring all her options to take her two-year-old and six-month-old kids out. They rarely head out to have lunch; however, the mom claimed to have a Chick-fil-A coupon for a free meal. Notably, the unused birthday treat at the restaurant might have expired if she had not used it by March 5, 2025. She reportedly loaded her children into the car and drove to the nearest fast-food chain in her neighborhood. “It was an extremely random place for us to go; we usually don’t eat out for lunch, but that’s where we ended up,” People magazine quoted Hilyard as saying.

“For some reason, I was feeling pulled to Chick-fil-A that day,” the mom of two continued. After she placed an order through the restaurant’s drive-thru service, an employee asked her to pull forward to the next window and wait for her order to be handed over. After some time, the male employee who brought her order also had a piece of paper in his hand. Referring to it as the “Sunshine Card,” he gave it to Hilyard, as she later claimed in her video. Moments later, with tears in her eyes, Hilyard recorded herself from inside the car while revealing the contents of the note extended by the stranger.  “You are doing such a good job with those kids,” wrote a Chick-fil-A employee named Malachi. The mom of two claimed it was the best thing someone could do for her at that moment.

“I hope I can find him to thank him for this… this is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for me,” Hilyard remarked, tagging the private restaurant chain in the description of the 15-second footage. The woman reportedly forgot to acknowledge the stranger’s kind gesture at the time as she was unaware of the contents of the message, she later claimed. But her post led to Malachi receiving widespread applause from people online for restoring their faith in humanity. Malachi’s mother was among those who reacted in the comments section with a wholesome reply.

“Malachi is my son. I know that handwriting anywhere! He also shared this post with me. Your tears make me tear up… Often, as the parent of two amazing sons, there are times when I’m unsure if I did my best,” @mrsdcfoster73, claiming to be Malachi’s mom, said. Hilyard responded, “You raised a wonderful man, mama! He truly made an impact in my life.” Echoing similar sentiments, @bri_gets_downcooking pointed out, “Even better that his name Malachi means ‘messenger’ in Hebrew.” “This is my amazing boyfriend!! Been with him almost a year now and he continues to amaze me by the kindness and compassion he has for others,” @carmine..crosta shared.

You can follow Jessica Hilyard (@__jess_hilyard) on TikTok for more parenting and wholesome content.