It was a busy morning at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre when an elderly woman dropped the food she had purchased, sparking not one, but two acts of kindness.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred at Ji Xiang Vegetarian Food on Sept 16 at around 9.45am.<\/p>\n
Stomper Arvelia<\/strong> was having breakfast at the hawker centre after running errands in the area when she witnessed what she described as \u201ca small act of kindness\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAn elderly aunty had just purchased food from Ji Xiang Vegetarian Food when she accidentally dropped it on the floor,\u201d the Stomper recounted.<\/p>\n According to Arvelia, nobody seemed to step forward as the aunty dealt with the mess of bee hoon and gravy \u2014 except for one man.<\/p>\n \u201cThe stall owner, however, noticed what had happened and immediately came out to assist her. He helped to clean up the spilled food and picked up what had fallen onto the floor,\u201d said the Stomper, who shared a photo of the heartwarming deed.<\/p>\n \u201cMore importantly, he then prepared a fresh serving of food for the elderly customer, replacing the food she had accidentally dropped.\u201d<\/p>\n A Stomper captured a photo of the heartwarming incident.<\/p>\n PHOTO: STOMP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Arvelia told Stomp that while the gesture was simple, it was a thoughtful one, especially towards an elderly customer who had just experienced an unfortunate accident.<\/p>\n She commended the hawker for taking time to stop what he was doing to lend a helping hand despite it being a busy morning for his stall.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes, kindness can be found in the smallest moments like a hawker quietly replacing a meal for an elderly customer without making a fuss,\u201d the Stomper added.<\/p>\n Arvelia hopes that sharing the incident on Stomp will make the hawker\u2019s day because \u201ckind souls are a gem\u201d.<\/p>\n When Stomp visited the stall on Sept 18 at around 11am, owner Thomas Ho said he did not realise that someone had taken a photo of the incident.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was so busy,\u201d the 62-year-old hawker recalled.<\/p>\n \u201cThe aunty was walking off when she dropped the whole packet of food on the ground, so I helped her to pick it up, throw it away and gave her a new packet.\u201d<\/p>\n Worried that passers-by \u2014 especially the elderly \u2014 might slip and fall as the floor was \u201cvery dirty and oily\u201d, Thomas cleaned up the mess.<\/p>\n There was a long queue at the stall even before noon.<\/p>\n STOMP PHOTOS: CHERLYNN NG<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n But the display of Singapore\u2019s kampung spirit<\/a> did not end there.<\/p>\n Thomas revealed: \u201cA gentleman came and said he wanted to pay for the aunty\u2019s second packet of food. I asked why, and he said he just wanted to compensate for it. I was so paiseh.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas declined and told the man that it was his \u201cpassion\u201d to help, but the man simply scanned his stall\u2019s QR code and paid the few dollars.<\/p>\n The jovial hawker, who has been operating Ji Xiang Vegetarian Food for over 30 years, does not think much of what he did for the aunty and said he would help anyone in her shoes.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople come for a meal to fill their stomachs. When they drop their food, they are probably feeling frightened and a sense of loss, so might as well let them have a nice meal and good day,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Ji Xiang Vegetarian Food owner Thomas Ho, 62, was presented with a Stomp Goody Bag on Sept 18.<\/p>\n STOMP PHOTO: CHERLYNN NG<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Thomas, who left his job in 2018 to take over the stall, was accompanied by colleagues when presented with a Stomp Goody Bag<\/a>.<\/p>\n Asked what he thinks about heartwarming deeds<\/a> like his being a rarity, Thomas said: \u201cI\u2019m glad (the Stomper) observed this. I think there should be more kindness in society, in the country and even the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u2018Kind souls are a gem\u2019<\/h2>\n
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Stranger pays for elderly woman\u2019s food<\/h2>\n
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