I just read this story in "Life is a Verb" by Patti Digh. I loved it so much I thought that I would share it here:
I was in line at the Giant Food supermarket in Washington, D.C., when a woman ahead of me in line was buying some basic foods, a very few items, including a package of the cheapest, fattiest meat I had ever seen.
As the cashier got closer and closer to the end of ringing up her 8 items, she kept asking for the subtotal and digging into her small change purse, realizing as the meat made its sad journey up the conveyer belt behind the turnips that she could never afford it. She lacked $1.07 and with the saddest eyes I had ever seen, told the cashier to put it back. I couldn’t bear it. “Excuse me, M’am,” I said as I bent down between my cart and the chewing gum display, “you must have dropped this five dollar bill.”
The only reason I had the presence of mind to do that was having read earlier that week about a millionaire who gives money to people in real need by pretending to find it on the floor or street, as if they have dropped it. It is a way for him to give without appearing to be the overlord of giving, the grand poobah of cash, without taking credit for the gift, without assuming the power that sometimes comes with giving.
It saves face. And puts the impulse for giving and helping where it should be.
Comment
Comment by Elly Rose Tech Support on October 23, 2012 at 11:35pm I love this tip, great giving M.
Comment by Ann on October 22, 2012 at 7:36pm Wonderful story and terrific idea. Thank you for sharing this!
Comment by Laura M on October 19, 2012 at 7:32am That is another great option; thank you so much for sharing!
L
Comment by shaloowalia on October 19, 2012 at 4:52am 
Comment by Michele wwt on October 19, 2012 at 3:02am 
Comment by Yuan Jane on October 18, 2012 at 8:31pm Thank you for sharing this great tip
Comment by IslandGirl on October 18, 2012 at 5:55pm That is *awesome*! Love, love, love it! (And I'm going to try it!)
Comment by Dawn wwt on October 18, 2012 at 5:10pm OMG! what a wonderful story! and a simply perfect way to help in a perhaps sticky situation.i know it would help a lot around my small town, where everyone worries so much about what others are going to think or say about them. thank you so much! you are an angel in so many ways. Hugs, Dawn xoxo
Comment by Lois55 wwt on October 18, 2012 at 4:03pm This is a great story and a wonderful way to give! I love to read about people who have huge hearts like this.
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