NBC12.com-Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic & SportsCo-workers honor kind-hearted woman

ACTS OF KINDNESS

Co-workers honor kind-hearted woman

Posted: Updated:
By Sabrina Squire - bio | email

  • Acts of KindnessActs of Kindness

  • Tuesday, May 15 2012 5:31 PM EDT2012-05-15 21:31:52 GMT
    Sometimes it takes a village to pay it forward. I hit the streets in Henrico at the White Oak Shopping Village to find someone ready on the spot to pass on a $300 Act of Kindness. I was certain my
    I hit the streets in Henrico at the White Oak Shopping Village and met with Michelle Johnson, a bus driver with Henrico Public Schools.

  • Tuesday, May 8 2012 6:25 PM EDT2012-05-08 22:25:37 GMT
    Nominations for our $300 Acts of Kindness segment usually come via phone or e-mail. But for the next few weeks, I'm hitting the streets all around town, to catch people willing to pay it forward on the spot.
    Nominations for our $300 Acts of Kindness segment usually come via phone or e-mail. But for the next few weeks, I'm hitting the streets all around town, to catch people willing to pay it forward on the spot to someone in need or reward someone's good deeds.

  • Tuesday, May 1 2012 5:34 PM EDT2012-05-01 21:34:51 GMT
    After the sudden death of a Prince George police officer three weeks ago, loved ones wanted to honor her memory with an Act of Kindness for the people she called "her" heroes.
    After the sudden death of a Prince George police officer three weeks ago, loved ones wanted to honor her memory with an Act of Kindness for the people she called "her" heroes.

  • Tuesday, April 24 2012 6:28 PM EDT2012-04-24 22:28:17 GMT
    RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Sometimes family ties can test us in ways we never imagine. We're paying it forward to a bachelor who suddenly found himself being a surrogate parent to an active pre-teen, while
    We're paying it forward to a bachelor who suddenly found himself being a surrogate parent to an active pre-teen, while also caring for his own critically ill mother. His friend calls him a strong, inspiring role model who deserves an Act of Kindness.

  • Tuesday, April 17 2012 5:40 PM EDT2012-04-17 21:40:56 GMT
    We're paying it forward in Chesterfield to a woman her neighbor calls "the most compassionate caretaker." Not only is she managing her own family's serious medical issues, she's opened her home to displaced families and pets, and looks after kids around the apartment complex.

  • Tuesday, April 10 2012 5:57 PM EDT2012-04-10 21:57:21 GMT
    A knit hat warmed a local woman's "heart" so much, she tracked down the person who knitted it and nominated her for today's Acts of Kindness.

  • Tuesday, April 3 2012 8:05 PM EDT2012-04-04 00:05:02 GMT
    We're paying it forward to a woman who takes care of seven hundred children and dozens of adults several days a week. She's such a great asset to her school and everyone in it, she's been voted support staff person of the year several years in a row and today she's our Act of Kindness recipient. 

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Tuesday, March 27 2012 6:25 PM EDT2012-03-27 22:25:37 GMT
    Lots of us remember an exceptional teacher who made us believe we could succeed at anything. Today a grandmother and cancer survivor is paying it forward to the educator she says has given her confidence that she absolutely will earn the diploma she's been longing for. Their teacher-student bond is this week's "Acts of Kindness."

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Wednesday, March 21 2012 8:10 AM EDT2012-03-21 12:10:09 GMT
    In this week's Acts of Kindness, we pay it forward to someone who opened their heart and their home to one of our viewers.

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Tuesday, March 13 2012 5:13 PM EDT2012-03-13 21:13:10 GMT
    Today we're paying it forward to a dynamic young CEO who is passionate about children, education and empowerment. She committed to nurturing future generations of local leaders and today a loyal supporter is making a three hundred dollar Act of Kindness investment.

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – Lowe's Associate Gale Payne says a lost dog sparked a connection with her co-worker Jennifer Summers. 

"I was trying to find out the owner and nobody called," she said. 

Gayle was going on vacation. 

"She volunteered to keep it for me and she did," added Gayle. 

SABRINA: "She takes care of animals around here?"
GAYLE: "Yes anywhere basically. Across the street at the nursing home…"
SABRINA: "What does she do at the nursing home?"
GAYLE: "Well she takes care of the cats that are over there. People have dropped animals off, they haven't fixed them. She's trapped them, she's fixed them. She's had them spayed, neutered and released them." 

Gale tells me Jennifer works two jobs to pay for pet food and medicine to save as many animals as possible. 

GAYLE: "It's her number one passion."
SABRINA: "I am happy to give you this. Here's $100, $200, $300."
GAYLE: "Oh my gosh! That's wonderful!" 

We set off to find Jennifer in her usual spot, the Garden Center, where she can take care of more living things. We find her manager. 

"I've heard great things you know about what she's doing and it's just amazing," said Linda the Assistant Manager. 

We can't wait to meet this animal lover. 

GAYLE: "I've been looking all over, where have you been?"
JENNIFER: "In appliances."
GAYLE: "I'd like to introduce you to somebody."
SABRINA: "You are an amazing woman."
JENNIFER: "I don't know what have I done."
SABRINA: "So caring, so nurturing."
JENNIFER: "What have I done today?"
SABRINA: "You are this week's Acts of Kindness recipient."
JENNIFER: "Oh goodness don't make me cry."
SABRINA: "Tell her why Gayle."
GAYLE: "Because you're wonderful. You take care of all the animals around here. If anybody ever needs anything, you're always there. You've helped me a million times and I just love it." 

JENNIFER: "Well, I'm not good on camera, but thank you. I don't know who to hug first."
GAYLE: "I'd like to give you this money to help take care of the animals for you."
JENNIFER: "Thank you!"
GAYLE: "$300. Here's $100…"
JENNIFER: "Thank you so much."
GAYLE: "$200…$300."
JENNIFER: "I feel like a goober crying."
GAYLE: "Maybe this'll help take care of the animals and take a little burden off you."
JENNIFER: "That'll be lovely, it's just so important to get them spayed and neutered and people don't understand that." 

Jennifer's pet philosophy, don't buy or breed - adopt. 

JENNIFER: "I have what maybe 30 to 35 that I take care of."
SABRINA: "30 what?"
JENNIFER: "Cats. Feral cats. We got some running around here" 

She shows us where they hide during the day. 

"I just have a connection with animals," Jennifer said.  "My heart goes out to them when we see them running around here." 

SABRINA: "How long have you been doing this?"
GAYLE: "I don't know as long as I could purchase my own food probably and travel around and feed 'em."
SABRINA: "How much in terms of money have you invested?"
GAYLE: I couldn't tell you, I could probably retire (laughs) but you do what you can do, everybody has their passions. But thank you so much. I am overwhelmed. I am absolutely overwhelmed." 

See the video above for more.

Copyright 2011 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.