“Teen Hero at Piggly Wiggly: Anthony’s Honesty Sparks a Wave of Hope and Kindness”

In a world where negative headlines often dominate the news, the story of a young man named Anthony is a refreshing and heartwarming reminder that integrity and kindness still thrive in our communities.

Anthony, a teenage employee at the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 78, is being praised for an act of honesty that has gone viral across social media platforms. His good deed not only reunited a customer with her lost belongings, but also restored faith in the values we hope to see in the next generation.

It all began on a typical Wednesday evening. A woman, who wishes to remain unnamed, stopped by the local Piggly Wiggly after work to pick up a few groceries. After finishing her shopping, she returned her cart to the designated cart port outside the store and headed home. It wasn’t until later that night, around 9:30 p.m., that she noticed something terribly wrong—her phone and wristlet were missing.

Panic set in quickly, especially since her wristlet contained not only her iPhone but also over $270 in cash. Earlier that day, her friend Shelisa had entrusted her with $200 in cash to handle a vehicle registration task. On top of that, she had more than $70 of her own money in the wristlet, including $10 in quarters. Frantically retracing her steps, she realized the only place she had been that day was the Piggly Wiggly.

With a glimmer of hope, she picked up the phone and called the store. To her shock and immense relief, both the phone and wristlet had been found—and nothing was missing. The store manager confirmed that every dollar, every quarter, and the iPhone itself were still intact. Even more incredible was the identity of the person who had found and turned in the items: Anthony.

Anthony, a student at Central Park Christian School and part-time grocery clerk, had come across the lost wristlet and phone and did not hesitate to do the right thing. Without any expectation of reward or recognition, he turned them in to the store’s management immediately.

The customer, deeply moved by Anthony’s honesty, returned to the store the next day to personally thank him and bless him with a $100 gift. She also reached out to Anthony’s mother, Joyce, to share the heartwarming story. Joyce, overwhelmed with emotion, broke down in tears upon hearing the praise for her son.

“I just had to let her know what a great job she was doing with her son,” the woman said. “We hear so much about kids getting into trouble or making bad decisions. It’s time we highlight the ones who do the right thing, especially when no one is watching.”

This simple yet powerful act of integrity has touched thousands of people online, many of whom are sharing the story to encourage other young people to choose honesty and do the right thing, even when it’s difficult. Posts celebrating Anthony’s actions have been shared across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with captions like, “Be like Anthony,” and “There is still good in the world.”

Community leaders and parents alike are pointing to Anthony as a shining example of character and values in action. Several local organizations have reached out to recognize him for his integrity, and there is even talk of establishing a youth community award in his honor.

Stories like Anthony’s remind us that the smallest acts of goodness can have the biggest impact. In a society hungry for role models, Anthony has become one—not by chasing attention, but by simply choosing honesty.

As this story continues to circulate, the hope is that more young people will see that there is honor in doing the right thing. In a single moment of integrity, Anthony did more than return a lost phone and a wristlet full of money—he inspired a community.

Let his story be a reminder that character counts. Even in the smallest corners of our daily lives, doing the right thing still matters.

Let’s keep the momentum going—share this story and let Anthony’s example light the path for others.