Showing Mercy: GMercyU Education Student is a Recipient of Random Act of Kindness

A recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer shared a story of Kiersten Hickman, a Gwynedd Mercy University Early Education major who was the recipient of a random act of kindness while working her waitressing job at Casey's Place, a pub in Quakertown, PA.

While Kiersten was working a shift, a stranger by the name of Emily George had something planned for her as part of a Venmo Tip Challenge. After Emily gathers donations and tips all week long through her Venmo, she then finds a local restaurant employee to surprise with the generous tip. Kiersten was one of many lucky recipients who received a $300 tip.

"I definitely teared up," said Kiersten, who was grateful for the extra cash for herself and her toddler, and touched that it came from people in her own community. Kiersten decided to pay it forward by splitting the tip with a bartender coworker and paying for a stranger's coffee the next morning at Dunkin'.

Throughout her Venmo Tip Challenge, Emily has donated more than $5,100 to servers at 17 restaurants throughout the local community.

Read more about Emily and Kiersten's stories in the full Philadelphia Inquirer article here.