A liquor store worker is receiving accolades after her gesture of kindness towards a homeless man was caught on camera and shared on social media.
Leia Thomas, known as “Ace”, hasn’t worked long at Brooklyn Center Liquor in Minnesota. But when a homeless man came to the store looking for cardboard boxes for his feet, she acted.
“We all know that December in Minnesota can be a very cold time of year. A homeless man came in looking for boxes he could use as makeshift shoes,” the owner of the liquor store shared in a Facebook post. A photo on the shop’s surveillance camera shows the man wearing the cardboard footwear.
Shortly after seeing the homeless man rifling through the trash for boxes right outside the store, Thomas approached the man. She asked what size feet he as and as they matched hers, she took off her sneakers and gave them to him.
“This was not just a regular old pair of shoes. Ace, being a Minnesota Vikings fan, had on her favorite pair of purple Nike Air Jordans which she gave to the man with zero hesitation,” the owner of the owner of the store continued. “This is a true example of empathy, compassion, and holiday cheer. We can all appreciate a story like this during the holiday season.”
The store added, “We applaud Ace for her selflessness and her willingness to help those in need!”
But Thomas’ kindness did not go unnoticed. Nice Kicks, a shoe store, posted a follow up on Instagram @nicekicks showing a smiling Thomas in their store holding up a new pair of the custom Nike Air Jordans. But how did that come to pass?
Mache, the artist who designed the custom Nikes, responded:
“Good things happen to good people, and when I heard the story about [Thomas’s] selfless act last week my buddy in Minnesota Ryan Rhody hit me and was like ‘so what are we doing?’ Ace gave up her Vikings purple Jordans so it was only right to make her a fresh pair.
“I overnighted these custom 7s to Minnesota and Ryan surprised her at work earlier today with not only these shoes but some other surprises as well. Ace I want to thank you again for being awesome.
“We hear about so much bad in this world these days that and you are a great reminder that there’s still so much out there. Happy Holidays to you and your family.”
In a later interview with KARE 11 News, Thomas said, “I didn’t care about the shoes, I cared about him. He didn’t know me, I didn’t know him. I just thought best to give him something he may need, that’s how I took it as.”
What goes around comes around and, in this instance, a whole lot of kindness.
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