More Than A Handshake

A friendly interaction with a stranger at Woolworths Ayr has left local man Travis Clarence bewildered and blown away with the kindness of his community.

Travis was doing his weekly grocery shop with his family when an elderly man approached him, stopping him for a brief conversation.

“I thought he was going to walk past me at the time but then he stopped to have a conversation with me,” Travis said.

“He told me to have a good one and as he went to walk away, he shook my hand, or what I thought was a handshake, it was actually some money that he placed into my hand.

“I was in shock; I didn’t know what to say.

“I wish I could’ve said more and done more at the time but before I knew it, he was gone.”

Travis went to find the gentleman with no luck.

In absolute disbelief, with no idea who the gentleman was or why he gave him money, Travis took to Facebook, sharing news of the good deed in an attempt to find the man.

“Hopefully he’s seen that post just to let him know that I’m going to pass on that good deed to someone who needs it and hopefully that follows on,” he said.

“I didn’t think there were many people out there like that.

“It hit me for a six, but it made me feel good, it made me feel like there are actually people out there who care and want to see people with a big smile on their face and I want to pass that same feeling on.”

Travis has been searching for the gentleman ever since and hopes to give him a good handshake.

“I’d like to tell him that he’s a good bloke and his message was well received,” Travis said.

“I’d like to sit down and have a cold beer with him if I ever get a chance to.”

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