Police officers, emergency workers, and first responders go above and beyond every day to keep our communities safe. No matter the time of day or the length of their shifts, they are always committed to their jobs. Recently, four Louisiana police officers experienced a heartwarming surprise after finishing a long, tiring shift at work.
The officers decided to head to their local Outback Steakhouse for a well-deserved dinner. Little did they know, something special was in store for them. As they finished their meal and received their receipt, they were struck with a pleasant shock.
Zoë Rao, a waitress at Outback Steakhouse, described the officers as “the sweetest guys” and mentioned that she enjoyed serving them. But it was what happened next that caught everyone’s attention.
Arline Wood, a manager with 18 years of experience at Outback Steakhouse, recognized the officers as regular customers. Together with Zoë, they devised a plan. When it came time for the officers to pay their $67 tab, they were astonished to find out it was on the house. Not only that, but there was also a heartfelt note on the receipt, expressing gratitude for their service to the community. It said, “Be safe!” at the top and continued, “Thank y’all for y’all’s service! Enjoy y’all’s meal on us!”
Arline Wood spoke highly of the officers, saying, “They care about the community. They care about everybody. They’re just great guys. Our whole police force is great, and these guys at night, I went to Zoë and I said, let’s take care of it.”
To show their appreciation, the officers left a generous tip. The Slidell Police Department later shared a photo of the receipt on their Facebook page, and it quickly went viral. However, this wasn’t the attention that Arline Wood and Zoë Rao were seeking. They didn’t anticipate their act of kindness to receive such public recognition. In fact, the publicity overwhelmed Arline Wood and she confessed that she isn’t fond of all the attention.
Despite their initial reservations, Arline Wood and Zoë Rao hope that their simple act of gratitude will inspire others to thank the brave individuals who risk their lives every day to protect others. Let us all take a moment to appreciate our local heroes and find ways to show our gratitude.
