A video posted by a pizza delivery driver has gone viral this week after a local church gave him an unbelievable tip that could help him “get his life back.”
As reported by the Huffington Post , 22-year-old Jeff Louis was told to come in early to his shift at Gionino’s pizza shop in Mentor, Ohio. Unsure what was so special about this particular order, the pizza delivery driver took several pizzas to Life Point Church. When he arrived, he was told to take one of the pizzas to the church pastor, Pastor Ken Wright, who was on stage during the service. Still baffled, Jeff Louis did as he was asked and got the surprise of a lifetime.
As the pizza delivery driver explains in the video above, the church congregation proceeded to give Louis more than $700 in tips. According to the pastor, this was not some hugely planned event, it was just a result of unexpected human generosity.
While Pastor Wright hoped to give the pizza delivery driver at least $100, he did not think the congregation would begin to empty their pockets for this stranger.
“Yeah, I just thought let’s tip him $100. It’s the holiday season,” said Ken Wright. “You know it was spontaneous. It just happened. They started lining up one by one with their own cash tips.”
Pizza delivery man overcome with emotion after receiving this tip https://t.co/utzAIox7uh pic.twitter.com/icLxlghM3G
— HuffPostGoodNews (@goodnews) December 6, 2015
But the churchgoers had no idea just how far this gesture went for the pizza delivery driver, who had been struggling to get his life back together after recovering from an unnamed addiction, according to local news WKYC . Louis shared his reaction to the incredible tip on YouTube, overcome with emotion and disbelief.
“I’ve been having such a hard time lately, just struggling to stay clean and everything. I’m just trying to get my life back and it just really truly amazes me — that people who don’t even know me just wanted to help me out that much.”
The video has so far amassed more than two million views on YouTube and rapidly climbing. Hundreds of comments have poured in giving the pizza delivery driver even more support through words of encouragement and thanks for a small example of human kindness.
“Another shooting today left me feeling numb and sad for the world,” said one commenter. “I’m glad I was able to stumble upon this to feel something beautiful, raw, and human. The road won’t suddenly get 100% easier for you, man, but you got this.”
The video ends with a final word of tearful gratitude from pizza delivery driver Jeff Louis, “Blessed.”
While $700 may not be enough to solve all of Louis’ problems, the pastor of the church believes this sort of generosity is all it takes to get somebody’s life back on track.
“We can change the world one life at a time,” he said.
Pizza delivery man moved to tears by $700 tip from church: “It really truly amazes me.” https://t.co/WF5dWYZBOf pic.twitter.com/SHoyjRvOP7
— Good Morning America (@GMA) December 4, 2015
The pizza delivery driver later followed up the viral video with a post on Facebook, according to the Daily Mail .
“Today I was given so much hope and I am so grateful. I’m still unable to put into words how thankful I am,” said Jeff Louis. “I’m still in awe about the love and kindness that was shown by everyone today. Thank you and every person at your church, it was a truly amazing experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
What would you have done if you were the pizza delivery driver and somebody tipped you more than $700?
For a similar story of an unbelievably generous tip, read about the waitress who received a $2,000 tip from a customer who gave a surprisingly simple explanation for the kindness.
[Image via Jeff Louis/YouTube]