Our local heroes, firefighters, police, and paramedics, put their lives on the line every day to keep our neighborhoods safe and secure. They work tirelessly, often for long hours, regardless of the clock or their personal comfort. Such dedication to the welfare of the community often goes unnoticed, but there are times when their service is not only recognized but celebrated. This is the story of one such heartwarming incident that took place in Slidell, Louisiana at Outback Steakhouse.
On a seemingly ordinary day, four uniformed police officers who had just finished their shift decided to have dinner at a nearby Outback Steakhouse. They were looking forward to a well-deserved meal and some relaxation after a particularly long and exhausting day on duty. Little did they know that their evening at the restaurant would be far from ordinary.
Outback Steakhouse, known for its warm hospitality, had a waitress named Zoe Rao who deeply appreciated the dedication of law enforcement officers. She remarked, “They are really nice guys and I enjoy serving them.” However, what Zoe and the rest of the staff have planned for these officers will soon garner attention on social media and beyond.
At Outback Steakhouse, where the officers were enjoying dinner, a waitress named Zoe Rao remarked, “They’re really nice guys and I enjoy serving them.”
However, what happened next created a lot of attention on social media.
When officers arrived, they were spotted by manager Arline Wood, who has been with the business for 18 years. She knew that he went to the restaurant often.
So together with waitress Zoe Rao, they came up with a strategy.
The officers were surprised by what they saw on the receipt when they went to pay their $67 expenses. They quickly discovered that it cost them nothing.
The manager and server paid their bill and the receipt read, “Thank you for your service to the community.”
“Stay safe!” was written at the top of the note, followed by “Thank you for your service! Enjoy your lunch, it’s up to us.
“They care about the community, they care about everybody,” Arline Wood noted. They are excellent men. Our entire police team is fantastic and after speaking to Zoe late at night we agreed to foot their bill.
The officers reportedly left substantial tips as a gesture of gratitude to show their appreciation.
Afterward, the Slidell Police Department decided to recognize the two Outback Steakhouse employees, so they posted a photo of the receipt on Facebook.
It was widely circulated online.
But Arline Wood and Zoe Rao didn’t want the world to know about their premeditated act.
In fact, Arline Wood admitted that the attention was too much when asked about it afterward.
“They called me early in the morning and I was confused by what they were talking about,” Wood recalled.
“People started calling me and we saw it on Facebook and it was everywhere, but we didn’t do it because of the attention because, you know, I don’t really like all the attention,” she said.
But Arline Wood and Zoe Rao didn’t seek or expect attention for their premeditated act. When asked about it later, their attention was actually a bit overwhelming. Reflecting on the unexpected media attention, Arline Wood recalled, “They called me early in the morning and I was confused about what they were talking about. People started calling me, we saw it on Facebook and it was everywhere.”, but we didn’t do it for the attention because, you know, I don’t really like all the attention.”
Despite their reluctance to be the center of attention, Arline and Zoe see the positive side of all the attention. They hope their small act of kindness can inspire others to give back in some way to those who risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe. These women deserve a round of applause for providing a heartwarming example of how to show appreciation to our police officers who willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect and serve us.
In a world where the news often highlights cases of police officers facing disrespect or refusing to serve, stories like this stand out as beacons of positivity. Acts of kindness like those performed by Arline and Zoe serve as a reminder of why these dedicated officers do what they do – to keep the community safe and secure. Such gestures of gratitude are proof that we value all of our first responders. So to all the heroes in uniform, thank you, and appreciate your service.