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Purveyor

(29,876 posts)
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 06:36 PM Oct 2013

NH Waitress Who Picked Up Tab For Soldiers During Shutdown Gets $10K From TV's Ellen

CONCORD, N.H. - A New Hampshire waitress who picked up the lunch tab of two National Guard soldiers affected by the federal government's shutdown has been repaid — more than 300 times over — by television star Ellen DeGeneres.

Sarah Hoidahl, a waitress in Concord, N.H., just wanted to do a nice thing for the soldiers, so she recently picked up their lunch tab. It cost her $27.75.

On Friday, DeGeneres squared the tab and then some, giving Hoidahl $27.75 in cash and a check for $10,000.

An emotional Hoidahl buried her face in her hands and thanked DeGeneres as the talk show host repeated "You're a good person."

DeGeneres caught wind of Hoidahl's act of kindness when the New Hampshire National Guard posted a picture on its Facebook page. The story spread quickly online, producers saw it and invited Hoidahl to Hollywood.

http://www.brandonsun.com/entertainment/breaking-news/nh-waitress-who-picked-up-tab-for-soldiers-during-shutdown-gets-10k-from-tvs-ellen-228399741.html?thx=y

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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NH Waitress Who Picked Up Tab For Soldiers During Shutdown Gets $10K From TV's Ellen (Original Post) Purveyor Oct 2013 OP
VIDEO below Tx4obama Oct 2013 #1
Thanks for posting. I love Ellen so! eom Purveyor Oct 2013 #2
Touching AND hilarious... joeybee12 Oct 2013 #3
wow... yuiyoshida Oct 2013 #17
The best part was 'Ellen's' purse", you don't always get $$ reward when SaveAmerica Oct 2013 #27
Nice malaise Oct 2013 #4
Wow. Just wow! Not Me Oct 2013 #5
I really like that. texanwitch Oct 2013 #6
Ellen is one classy woman ! Love You! BlueJazz Oct 2013 #7
She only went home with eight bucks that evening after that. lpbk2713 Oct 2013 #8
Sarah paid it forward and got much in return. Marie Marie Oct 2013 #9
WOW - two super humans - Sarah and Ellen Laf.La.Dem. Oct 2013 #10
My daughter's religious, republican in laws tavernier Oct 2013 #11
the hate toward hollywood LittleGirl Oct 2013 #20
Likely also because that couple doesn't like No Vested Interest Oct 2013 #24
I think it's because she's gay JimDandy Oct 2013 #25
Bingo tavernier Oct 2013 #30
What are they, 12? tblue Oct 2013 #34
That's the strange part tavernier Oct 2013 #35
Nice story. nt kelliekat44 Oct 2013 #12
Happy to K&R! n/t pengillian101 Oct 2013 #13
Thank you to both. class acts. nt sarge43 Oct 2013 #14
How very cool of both women. n/t ohheckyeah Oct 2013 #15
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Oct 2013 #16
Wow! llmart Oct 2013 #18
NICE!!! calimary Oct 2013 #19
That is so cool. bearssoapbox Oct 2013 #21
What a sweet heart! liberalmuse Oct 2013 #22
The awesomeness of both women Iwillnevergiveup Oct 2013 #23
lovely story Liberal_in_LA Oct 2013 #26
I always thought Ellen was the nicest person since she first started in stand up. She is one of the Monk06 Oct 2013 #28
Who doesn't love ELLEN! oh, besides bigots, lol. Divine Discontent Oct 2013 #29
Thank you Ellen, you are a good person! Rebellious Republican Oct 2013 #31
I don't believe there is a more caring and giving person than Ellen. n/t UtahLib Oct 2013 #32
That's wonderful but I thought the military was getting paid. I saw doc03 Oct 2013 #33

SaveAmerica

(5,342 posts)
27. The best part was 'Ellen's' purse", you don't always get $$ reward when
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 09:13 PM
Oct 2013

helping others out but just the helping always feels so good.

Not Me

(3,398 posts)
5. Wow. Just wow!
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 07:23 PM
Oct 2013

I am so impressed with both of these women.
Nice way to end the week.
Thanks for sharing.

lpbk2713

(42,759 posts)
8. She only went home with eight bucks that evening after that.
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 07:32 PM
Oct 2013



Just enough to pay for her gas.

She's a single Mom living with her single Mom.

WTG Ellen.


Marie Marie

(9,999 posts)
9. Sarah paid it forward and got much in return.
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 07:36 PM
Oct 2013

Nice to see that kindness reaped its own reward. Good for you Ellen.

tavernier

(12,392 posts)
11. My daughter's religious, republican in laws
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 07:46 PM
Oct 2013

call her Ellen Degenerate, with lots of laughter and hooting when her name comes up. I'm sure Ellen would smile and say that she's glad she's given them a good laugh.

JimDandy

(7,318 posts)
25. I think it's because she's gay
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 09:12 PM
Oct 2013

and not because she's a celebrity that they say 'Degenerate'. I could be wrong, but I think the clue words 'Religious' and 'Republican' point to gay more than to Hollywood.

tavernier

(12,392 posts)
30. Bingo
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 09:46 PM
Oct 2013

She is gay and successful... How could that possibly be? Much like being black and successful is against the laws of nature.

Luckily my SIL thinks they're nuts.

tavernier

(12,392 posts)
35. That's the strange part
Sat Oct 19, 2013, 01:32 PM
Oct 2013

They can be very thoughtful about some things. But mostly they are pissed off and angry most of the time from all appearances.

llmart

(15,540 posts)
18. Wow!
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 08:30 PM
Oct 2013

I just love Ellen. She is an amazing woman - so compassionate and caring.

And Sarah - what can you say about her? The same damned thing!

Two incredible human beings. I'm all teary eyed now. I loved how choked up Sarah got when she saw her baby's picture. You could just tell she adores him.

bearssoapbox

(1,408 posts)
21. That is so cool.
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 08:51 PM
Oct 2013

Ellen is always doing great things like that.

Her show is one of the few that I miss since my tv broke.

liberalmuse

(18,672 posts)
22. What a sweet heart!
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 09:01 PM
Oct 2013

I'm talking about both Ellen and Sarah, who could be my daughter. Whenever people my age get on the younger folks, I roll my eyes. I have no worries about these kids. I'll bet her mama is so damn proud, because she did good! Sadly, this is the face of the person that the GOP has shown nothing but contempt for, and dammit, it makes me angry.

Iwillnevergiveup

(9,298 posts)
23. The awesomeness of both women
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 09:04 PM
Oct 2013

is simply overwhelming. Isn't this truly how life is meant to be...helping one another?

Huge K&R

Monk06

(7,675 posts)
28. I always thought Ellen was the nicest person since she first started in stand up. She is one of the
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 09:20 PM
Oct 2013

most genuine people in the whole wide world.

doc03

(35,346 posts)
33. That's wonderful but I thought the military was getting paid. I saw
Fri Oct 18, 2013, 10:52 PM
Oct 2013

a guy a couple months ago while on layover at Chicago buy four servicemen their
lunch at a fast food restaurant. There still are some good people left in this world.

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