Summary

A grocer's friendship with a child at a Publix store in Florida inspires a global campaign to celebrate and recognize acts of kindness.

Abstract

In Fort Myers, Florida, a unique bond formed between a grocery store employee named Gilnet and a young girl named Fiona during her family's weekly shopping trips. This friendship, marked by simple acts of kindness like high fives, led to Gilnet gifting Fiona her first bike. The pandemic disrupted their routine, but the friendship's impact persisted, prompting Fiona's mother, Rachel Smith, to seek out Gilnet two years later. The heartwarming reunion and the stories it sparked on social media moved Smith to establish the nonprofit "Who's Your High Five?" The organization encourages people to share stories of individuals who have positively influenced their lives, aiming to create a global movement of appreciation and gratitude.

Opinions

Rachel Smith values the culture of kindness she experienced at Publix, which was exemplified by Gilnet's interactions with her daughter.
Gilnet's genuine care and thoughtful actions, such as gifting Fiona a bike, left a lasting impression on both Fiona and her family.
The social media response to the stories of Fiona and Gilnet highlights the importance of small acts of kindness in people's lives and the desire to acknowledge and celebrate them.
The creation of "Who's Your High Five?" reflects a collective appreciation for the positive influences in our lives and the belief that these influences deserve recognition.
The thank you message to Trista Signe Ainsworth, Ellie Jacobson, and Sharing Randomly indicates the collaborative effort and community support that went into crafting and editing the uplifting publication.
The invitation for reader engagement through comments suggests an interest in fostering a community dialogue around the themes of kindness and appreciation.

INSPIRATION/POSITIVITY/SOCIAL MEDIA

A Grocer’s Friendship with a Child Inspires a Campaign to Celebrate Kindness

The “Who’s Your High Five” nonprofit thanks those who helped us

“You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.” — Zig Ziglar

In the vegetable aisle at a Publix in Fort Myers, Florida, an extraordinary friendship blossomed.

Rachel Smith had been going to this supermarket every Saturday for several years.

She told Good Morning America that she chose this store because “there was always such a culture of kindness there.”

A grocer by the name of Gilnet, who worked at the store, was always delighted to see Smith and her daughter Fiona.

“I noticed her beginning to recognize him, and then eventually going out of her way to look for him,” Smith stated about Fiona as a toddler.

After Gilnet taught Fiona how to high five, he earned the moniker “High Five.”

Gilnet recognized this amazing connection. He gifted Fiona her first bike on her third birthday in 2019, much to the young girl’s delight.

A New Nonprofit is Born

The family’s weekly supermarket excursions had to end due to the pandemic. During this time, Gilnet was transferred.

After two years, Smith hunted Gilnet down at his new store and took Fiona to see him. The two were overjoyed to see one other again, and Fiona ran up to Gilnet for a hug.

Smith shared numerous videos of Fiona and Gilnet on social media and received multiple responses from followers discussing the “High Fives” in their lives — people they met as children who made an indelible impact.

Smith told GMA the experiences of others and Gilnet inspired her to start a nonprofit.

She named it “Who’s Your High Five?” and aims to spark a global movement of eternal appreciation.

People may contribute stories about individuals who’ve favorably touched their lives in the same manner Gilnet has positively impacted theirs. Perhaps even reuniting them with their own “High Five.”

Thank you to Trista Signe Ainsworth, Ellie Jacobson, and Sharing Randomly. I appreciate all of the time and effort you three put into editing this lovely and uplifting publication.

What are your thoughts? Please share in the comments.

A version of this story originally appeared on NewsBreak.

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