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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Orlaith Clinton

Smyths Toys random act of kindness brings mum and staff to tears

A Northern Ireland woman says she was moved to tears after learning the meaning behind a random act of kindness.

On Thursday, Caitlin Foster took her daughter Lacey to Smyths Toys in Ballymena to pick up a toy with £10 the child had been gifted from her granny. But while they were in the store, Caitlin was approached by three members of staff, who handed her a gift voucher.

Explaining that they did not know the name of the woman who left the gift card in, staff did say that it was for £50 and that they were asked to give it to a child of pre-school age.

Read more: NI mum's heartache after losing her twins born prematurely

Speaking to Belfast Live, Caitlin said when she opened the card, she was brought to tears, after reading what had been left inside.

"We had been at my granny's house, who lives round the corner from Smyth's and she had gave Lacey £10 to get herself a toy," she added.

"She was trying to pick toys that were more than £10 but I kept telling her she had to stick to it, which obviously was a hard choice to make for her. We were in the aisle and three Smyth's staff members came over, I am guessing one was the manager, and they asked if they could give me the gift card and that it had been left in by a woman in memory of her daughter who would have turned four that day.

"I just started to cry, and then the workers were crying too. It was very emotional. They said they had been crying all morning since they found out about the card.

"Inside it said, 'In loving memory of our daughter Juno, four today, 15th September'. I was really taken back and posted about it on my social media so that the lady could maybe see it one day, and know that it had gone to someone.

"And all I can say is if Juno's mummy is reading this, I just want to say a huge thank you. She made my wee girl so happy and I am thinking about her and her family. It is very kind what she has done, and it has inspired other people to do the same."

Sands Northern Ireland is part of Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity. For more information, or for support, please visit their page here.

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