The Gift

(Photo by Randy M. Cauthron) Cara Boyer and her daughter, Lilly flash the $100 gift they were given by a stranger Friday morning at the American Classic Cafe. Their directions: Buy food for a needy family. That amount has since grown to $200. [Order this photo]

Cara Boyer frequents the American Classic Cafe in south Spencer on a daily basis. She meets her sister there on a daily basis for coffee, sometimes a light breakfast, and the two work a crossword puzzle together.

Friday morning, she was sitting in a booth with her eight-year-old daughter, Lilly, firming up plans by cellphone for her role as an interpreter at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church's bilingual Mass at 11 p.m. Christmas Eve.

As she spoke, a stranger sat in a nearby booth, drinking a cup of hot tea and eating a bowl of oatmeal with raisins.

"He was really in tune with what she (Cara) was talking about," American Classic Cafe waitress Wendy Willard said. "The next thing I knew, he had given her this money."

Sixty dollars to be exact.

"He just came up and said, 'I couldn't help but overhear your conversation.' We got into a conversation and he asked if I knew anybody who could use a meal this holiday season," Boyer said. "I said sure."

According to Boyer he asked if $50 would buy the meal. Boyer, who is currently taking RCIA classes at Sacred Heart to become a Catholic, said anything would help.

"I thought I should direct him to Gwen Kardell (from Sacred Heart, with whom she had been talking to on the phone). He said: 'No. I trust you to give it to someone in need.' I asked his name and he said, 'That's not important.'

"He said, 'There's something in here (patting her chest, simulating what he had done to his own chest) that wants me to do this.'"

He then opened his wallet and produced three $20 bills and gave them to Boyer, then returned to his table.

Willard said, "He gave her the money and finished his hot tea. He sat there for about 15 or 20 minutes then got up to leave."

Before he left, Boyer told him, "I've been thinking about this and I know a family that has recently lost someone. I think I'm going to split this between the two families with that loss."

Those two families lost Oscar Altamirano Pavon on Nov. 8 in an automobile accident near Albert Lea, Minn. He left behind a wife, Virginia Flores Pena and son, Oscar Altamirano Flores in Spencer; as well as a mother Aurora Altamirano and sister, Dora Maria Altamirano and husband, Mauro Jimenez of Spencer. Boyer had been an interpreter for the family, was a long time friend, and actually planned Oscar's funeral.

"I told him I was going to split it between the two houses, both of who suffered a loss and injuries in that accident, as well as their income. They are a family near and dear to me. I think they'll appreciate it and really make good use of it."

In addition to Oscar's fatality, three additional "grave" injuries were sustained, including one to a victim who remains at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The unknown benefactor didn't think that $60 was enough so he reached into his wallet and pulled out another $40 to add to the pot.

He paid his breakfast bill in cash. Then he walked out the door.

"I've never seen this man before. I gave him a little bit of crap about eating so healthy and he said that eating this way earned him a clean bill of health," said Willard who served both customers involved in the unique display of generosity and trust.

"Today is a great day. That really lifted my spirits," Willard said. "We were both shocked but it was very touching. It's one of those things that just kind of warms the heart and brings tears to your eyes.

"There are some people who do care about other people."

Boyer took the money to Hy-Vee late Friday afternoon with the intention of buying two $50 gift cards to give to the two families. When she shared her story with Hy-Vee Store Director, Jennifer Knesel, Knesel matched the $100, allowing Boyer to purchase two $100 gift cards for the families.

Willard, who works the morning shift at American Classic Cafe, said that while she's seen local people help each other out in trying times, she has never witnessed such an act from a complete stranger. And while she didn't know his name, she said, "He was very close to God. A very spiritually centered man, very Christian and a very nice man.

"I was having a hard time getting into the holiday season. Tips are down…But it really did touch me today. I finally got into the spirit. I'm actually going to go home and tell my kids about it."