Check this out! Man in checkout line pays for Barnegat mother groceries

Editor's note: The Asbury Park Press is celebrating 31 days of kindness this month, highlighting New Jersey people and organizations that have inspired us throughout 2023.

It was a normal day for Jessica Martinez of Barnegat. A day that she will always appreciate.

As usual, the mother of 5, started her day by tackling her laundry list of errands. One of her stops included Dollar General to purchase groceries for dinner, then she was realized at the checkout that she left her wallet in the car.

"I was rushing from dropping one kid off to trying to gather and cook dinner before pick up. My brain is extremely overstimulated most days," Jessica Martinez told tapinto.net "I got to the register and realized my wallet was in the car. I told the cashier to please take the man behind me, and I would be right back.

When she returned into the store from grabbing her wallet the cashier informed her that the same man she allowed to go before her paid for all her groceries. Martinez was in disbelief.

"I stood there asking: Are you serious? a few times," she said.

Martinez was only able to shout, 'Thank you' as he was driving away, and for her that was not enough.

"I just really, really wanted him to know that I so appreciated it so much more than he knows. Thirty dollars isn’t a lot for most, but it was for me," she told tapinto.net.

More kindness: Stop & Shop spreads holiday cheer to 40 Monmouth County families

More kindness: Heart-warming story: Commissioners, parents group hand out 600 coats to NJ children

If you have a story of kindness, send us an email at kstrong@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Stranger in New Jersey checkout line pays for another customer's items