Staff from the Pub Down Under visited the Rothesay Avenue Superstore this month, and surprised a couple with free groceries. (Pub Down Under: Facebook)
A Saint John bar is spreading holiday cheer by giving back to the community this month.
Staff from the Pub Down Under Staff have been visiting grocery stores in Saint John and surprising a random customer by paying for all of their groceries.
Owner Liz Fulton says so far, they’ve surprised two people, and plan on visiting four more grocery stores this month.
“It’s kind of nice because we don’t even know who we’re walking into. The store managers, I speak to them ahead of time, let them know I’m coming, call them when I’m the parking lot the day of, and they just look through their store for somebody with a full shopping cart,” she said.
“It’s pretty touching to see people’s reactions. Somebody could be having a bad day or somebody even just in the store is having a bad day, and you see something like that, it totally changes how they feel.”
Fulton says they started the good deed initiative last year as a way to give back to the community that supports them all year long.
This year, they decided to step it up and give away presents too.
During the first week, they gave away a cellphone, and during week two, they gifted a couple an Xbox one and two games.
“The Superstore was gracious enough to throw a $100 gift card in so they could buy some more games, and it was great because they ended up having four children at home,” she said.
She hopes the movement will inspire others to do something kind this winter.
“If every business or every person just took a moment out of their day… it’s all it takes.”
Fulton says the bar stays open on Christmas Eve to provide a social space for people who may be spending Christmas alone.
“Not everybody has family, sometimes the kids are all grown up. It’s different situations for different people,” she said.
Fulton says she’s just doing her part to spread some kindness during the holidays.
“Christmas isn’t always easy for everybody, the holidays aren’t always an easy, fun time. They can be rough and hard and lonely, so it’s just kind of nice to give a little joy at that time of year.”
