Let’s Show Laura That Kindness Comes Back

After a long walk to unwind from a busy workday, best friends Emma and Eli were hit with a craving for wings. Naturally, we made our way to Wingstop in West LA, not expecting anything more than a quick dinner. But what happened inside that restaurant stuck with us.

As we walked in, we were immediately greeted by Laura, a Wingstop employee with the warmest smile and kindest energy. We had a bunch of questions about the menu, and she helped us without hesitation. But right after we ordered, we overheard her quietly mention how tired she was. Something about her tone made us pause.

We asked her how her day had been, and that’s when she shared her story. Laura commutes over two hours every day on the train from East LA, where she works as a barista before coming to her shift at Wingstop. She does this every single day just to survive and make ends meet. She was so exhausted she couldn’t even remember the name of the coffee shop she worked at earlier that morning. She told us the only time she gets to sleep is during her train ride from East to West LA.

Even through her exhaustion, she made sure we felt welcome. She was patient. She was kind. She wanted us to enjoy our food and have a great night. And while she was a little shy at first, she eventually opened up and it became clear that she is carrying a lot more than most people realize.

When we walked out of the restaurant, food in hand, we both looked at each other and said the same thing. We have to do something. This is a story people need to hear.

As two people with somewhat of a platform, we feel a responsibility to use it to help someone like Laura, someone who is showing up every day and giving her all despite how hard things are. Our dream is to go back and surprise her with enough money so she can take a few days off, breathe, and know that people see her and care.

If you are able to give anything at all, we would be so grateful. Even the smallest amount can help us show Laura the kindness she showed us. Though we did not grab a photo of Laura during our initial interaction, we will be sure to capture the delivery of the donations.