Two women in Texas found themselves unexpectedly helping out at a busy Denny’s restaurant when they realized it was severely understaffed. Sylvia Arrendondo and her mother Idalia Merkel had gone to the restaurant after leaving a concert and were seated by another customer.

They quickly realized that only two people were working, one serving tables and the other cooking, and that the man who was seating new guests had no idea what he was doing. Rather than taking their business elsewhere, Arrendondo and Merkel decided to lend a hand and began taking orders and cooking food.

They quickly realized that only two people were working, one serving tables and the other cooking, and that the man who was seating new guests had no idea what he was doing. Rather than taking their business elsewhere, Arrendondo and Merkel decided to lend a hand and began taking orders and cooking food.

The service industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and complaints about low wages, poor management, and abusive customers have driven many workers to leave. Despite the challenges facing restaurant workers, Arrendondo and the other customers who pitched in to help saw two young employees doing their best to keep the place running and didn’t hesitate to jump in and help. When asked why they didn’t just leave, Arrendondo explained, “We just looked at each other and it wasn’t even a question. We both knew what we had to do.”

Arrendondo shared her experience on Facebook, calling it “the most beautiful act of American unity that I have personally encountered.” Despite being unpaid and exhausted, Arrendondo and Merkel were proud to have helped and were grateful for the opportunity to support the employees who were doing their best under difficult circumstances.