Local Spotlight: a story of giving back to ourlocal community

By Matt Kalousek, owner of Graphic Design FX

On the night of Halloween my family and I were eating at a local restaurant…

My son and daughter entered the restaurant dressed in their Halloween costumes. We spotted a Conroe Police Officer in the back corner having his dinner. The Police Officer entered into a conversation with my son and daughter and complimented them on their costumes. He jokingly mentioned that he was a police officer. We all laughed.

As my wife and I were ordering at the counter and about to pay the police officer came up and gave the cashier a $100-dollar bill and said, “I would like to pay for your meal.” My wife and I were taken back and commented on how we couldn’t accept that. I think I said “no way” but he insisted. My wife, the cashier, and I were so taken aback that we really didn’t even know to react. I even pulled out my credit card to pay for the meal. We were really just in shock. We had the kids thank the nice police officer for what he had done, and he really just said “Thanks for being good citizens”. We thanked him many more times as he was walking out the door. We went on with our dinner still in shock.

My wife and I were explaining to the kids how extremely nice that was of that policeman to buy our dinner and that we should be buying his dinner for the service and sacrifice that he provides to us and the local community on a daily basis. He said he has been a police officer for 27-years and enjoyed every day of it. It’s amazing to see the generosity that one individual can give every day to the community and my family. We really had never had that happen to us. It’s really nice to know how good people still are.

This Holiday season spread the holiday cheer and give back to the local community. Whether it be volunteering for a local community organization, adopting a family in need, or simply saying thank you to the kind men and women that help protect us.

Check our Holiday Giving Guide for ideas on how to give back