Unidentified Cody woman pays for student lunches with $20 bills

A woman paid for the deli lunches of every student waiting in line at an Albertsons in Cody on Tuesday.

The transaction took place during the school lunch break at the grocery store's deli counter. Senior Hailie Schramm and her sister Kinzie were waiting in line with other Cody High School students when a woman ahead of them turned around. The woman handed Kinzie a $20 bill and said she would pay for the lunch. Hailie did not recognize the woman and assumed the customer knew her sister. The woman then turned to Hailie and made the same offer.

"She ordered her food, turned around to my sister, and gave her $20," Hailie said. "She said, 'I am going to pay for your lunch today.'" The woman continued down the line, paying for the meals of all the high school students present. Hailie estimated the total cost of the chicken, salads, and other items at least $100.

The students did not know the woman's identity. She did not give a long speech or explain her reasoning. She simply opened her wallet and handed out cash. "It was so completely random," Hailie said. "She didn't say anything, just, 'I want to buy your guys' lunch today.' That's all we heard from her."

Emmie Schramm, the girls' mother, learned about the event after her daughters came home. She initially thought the girls were bringing bad news. "I was in disbelief and didn't exactly understand what they were saying, but that lady truly handed out $20 bills to every kid in line," Emmie said. The family has encouraged their three children to treat others with respect and kindness from a young age.

Emmie described the stranger as a model of generosity. "She just offered help to random kids, without judging who she was handing the money to or questioning their beliefs," Emmie said. The mother said she wanted to thank the woman for teaching the teenagers a lesson on giving. "To see our kids be the recipients of such a kind gesture is simply amazing," Emmie added.

Hailie plans to graduate from Cody High School next spring. She will attend Montana Tech University in Butte to study occupational therapy and run cross country. She said the experience will influence how she interacts with others in the future. "I'm definitely going to pass this on in the future," Hailie said. "It was so cool to see that there's kindness coming from her heart in this world."

The incident occurred at a location Hailie described as a popular lunch spot for high schoolers. "It's quick and easy, and it's really close, so it's always really busy there during lunchtime," Hailie said. The students left the store with their meals paid for and no receipt. The woman left the deli counter without giving her name to any of the students she helped.