Every little bit helps...single mom Sarah Hoidahl picks up the tab for two National Guardsman impacted by the federal shutdown.

CONCORD, N.H. —A Concord waitress said after learning that two of her customers are soldiers affected by the federal government shutdown, she picked up their tab for lunch.

Sarah Hoidahl said she wanted to do something nice for the members of the National Guard, so she paid their bill, which was about $30.

It was a typical Wednesday afternoon shift at the Ruby Tuesday restaurant in Concord when two service members came in for lunch and sat in Hoidahl’s section.

“They were looking through the menu and she had mentioned something about the furlough and how we aren’t getting paid and I was like, ‘Oh, jeez,’” Hoidahl said.

Hoidahl, who is a single mother of a 15-month-old boy, said she knows how difficult it can be to make ends meet.
“I was just thinking to myself that must be really difficult,” she said. “Just because the income stops, doesn’t mean the bills do.”

She wrote a note expressing her gratitude on the back of the check.

“I was like, ‘You know, I’m going to buy their food today.’” Hoidahl said. “Good karma, do something nice for someone else.”

Hoidahl said the reaction she got from the guard members was more than she expected.

“I came out front and they were out front waiting for me and they came up and hugged me and just their reaction was worth everything,” she said. “It was like I did this big huge thing, and I was like, ‘I just bought you lunch, but thank you.’”

News of her gesture quickly spread online. The New Hampshire National Guard posted a picture of Hoidahl and a copy of her note on its Facebook page. The response, she said, was overwhelming.

“I think the most moving thing I saw on Facebook was someone said there should be more people like me, that really got to me,” she said.

Hoidahl said she has friends who have served in the military and her boyfriend is a Marine. She said she admires what they do for the country and this was the least she could do.

“I mean, they protect this country,” she said. “They protect citizens like me and it was a nice thing to do.”

Hoidahl said she hopes her gesture inspires others, even if it’s as simple as a smile and a thank-you for service.