Teenage Cashier Grows Emotional After Customer Gifts Him $2,500

Jul 30, 2023

A single act of kindness can truly make a difference in someone’s life, especially someone who may have had a tougher go at life compared to others. One teenager from Independence, Missouri, was left completely speechless after a kind customer rewarded him for having a strong dedication to his job.

Ryheem Lumpkins is a 16-year-old student at William Chrisman High School who has worked at the Pizza Ranch restaurant in Independence since the springtime of 2023. As the front register clerk, Lumpkins is responsible for catering to customers and handling monetary transactions. When no one is in the cash register line, the teenager stays busy by sweeping floors and wiping down the food buffet.

People have noticed that Lumpkins tends to lean more on the shy side and has a more introverted personality. However, that hasn’t prevented him from doing his job with vigor and enthusiasm. In fact, meeting new people is one of the aspects of the job that Lumpkins has admitted to liking the most.

“I see new people, I get excited when I see them. I never knew I could get excited when I see people,” Lumpkins said, as per KCTV.

Fortunately, the feeling appears to be mutual, as customers have raved about Lumpkins’ hard work at the pizza parlor. Robert Samay is one of those appreciative customers that was so amazed at Lumpkins’ positive attitude that he gave the teenager a $5 tip. In May 2023, Samay surprised Lumpkins when he gave him yet another tip, this time, much more than $5. The grateful customer tipped the teen $2,500.

When Ramay showed up at Pizza Ranch in May 2023, Lumpkins never could have expected he would receive such a kind gesture. “I appreciate your hard work, your good smile, your good attitude. We don’t get that nowadays, especially with young kids,” Samay told him.

Samay’s friend then pulled out a stack of $50 bills and counted them in front of Lumpkins, totaling $2,500. The teen grew emotional and was handed the generous tip. He said:

“To be honest, I was speechless. I never had nothing in my life that had happened to me like that before. That right there showed me that there’s more people in the world that really cares for me.”

For Samay, the gesture was simple. “Money comes and goes,” Samay said. “It’s rare to find someone like Ryheem.”

According to Local 12, Samay was inspired by Lumpkins’ positive attitude, especially considering he has a physical disability. KCTV reported that Lumpkins’ hands and arms never fully developed.

“I don’t describe it as a condition,” Lumpkins explained. “God made me like this for a reason. I’m a regular person. I don’t think of it as a disability. It don’t prevent me from nothing. If I feel like I can do it, I can do it.”

Lumpkins has big dreams and ambitions past working at the pizza parlor. He hopes to purchase his first car and also hopes to be a motivational speaker for youth like him. He shared a heartfelt message:

“Don’t ever hide it. Embrace what you have different from other people. Because a lot of people think it’s cool and a lot of people wouldn’t think it’s cool. The negative words, don’t let it get to your head. Because there’s a lot of positive in the world. There’s more positive than negative.”

What did you think about this customer’s act of kindness toward a cashier? What do you think about Ryheem Lumpkins’ heartfelt message? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family and friends.