New Jersey waitress who bought meal for firefighters as thank you for their service is rewarded when they help raise $30,000 for her father's wheelchair van

  • Liz Woodward paid for firefighters' breakfast after North Brunswick warehouse fire that took 12 hours to get under control 
  • Tim Young and Paul Hullings, impressed by the random act of kindness, shared her note on Facebook and expressed their gratitude
  •  Firefighters realized that Woodward was raising money so that her quadriplegic father can have a wheelchair-accessible van 
  • GoFundMe for Steve Woodward has since raised tens of thousands

By Christopher Brennan For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

Firefighters impressed by a New Jersey waitresses's generosity are paying her and her family back in a way that she never expected.

Liz Woodward was working at the Route 130 diner in Delran when she overheard two first responders talk about a particularly rough overnight shift fighting a massive warehouse fire in North Brunswick that took 12 hours to get under control.

She ended up paying for their breakfast and leaving them a kind note thanking them for their service, and her gratitude was not lost on them.

As their own expression of thankfulness, the firefighters shared a picture of the note on Facebook and used the attention it received to raise tens of thousands of dollars to get her quadriplegic father a wheelchair accessible van.

Scroll down for video 

A pair of New Jersey firefighters were impressed by a diner waitresses paying for their meal and ended up repaying her by helping raise money for her quadriplegic father. Above, a note she left on their check

A pair of New Jersey firefighters were impressed by a diner waitresses paying for their meal and ended up repaying her by helping raise money for her quadriplegic father. Above, a note she left on their check

Liz Woodward (pictured) said that firefighters Tim Young and Paul Hullings deserved a free meal
She praised the first responders for 'running into the places everyone else runs away from'

Liz Woodward (left) said that firefighters Tim Young (right, left) and Paul Hullings (right, right) deserved a free meal for 'running into the places everyone else runs away from'

'Thank you all that you do, for serving us and for running into the places everyone runs away from. No matter your role, you are courageous, brave and strong,' Woodward wrote in the note

'Thank you for being bold and badass everyday. Fueled by fire and driven by courage - what an example you are. Get some rest!"

'I started tearing up and it made me feel good - us firefighters are wanted, people care about us,' Mount Holly Fire Department's Paul Hullings told ABC 6 about receiving the message.

His friend and fellow firefighter Tim Young made a post about the diner experience was quickly shared more than 3,000 times.

Young soon came across a page where Woodward had been raising money to buy her father Steve (pictured) a van where he can use his wheelchair

Young soon came across a page where Woodward had been raising money to buy her father Steve (pictured) a van where he can use his wheelchair

 The firefighters had been getting an early morning breakfast after being called to assist at a warehouse fire in North Brunswick that took 12 hours to get under control

 The firefighters had been getting an early morning breakfast after being called to assist at a warehouse fire in North Brunswick that took 12 hours to get under control

However, it was not until afterward that they realized they could help Woodward in a meaningful way.

'Turns out, the young lady who gave us a free meal is really the one that could use the help...' Young posted along with a link to a GoFundMe page for Woodward's dad Steve.

The father became a quadriplegic and is bed-bound after a brain aneurysm in 2010, according to the page started in December.

Donations met the page's $17,000 goal, though the family later realized that the father, who suffered a Grand Mal seizure on Monday, may be better suited by a more expensive van that costs up to $80,000.

Since news of Young and Hullings return of kindness got out, the page has gone from roughly $25,000 to more than $56,000 as of Saturday night. 

Young and Hullings started bringing attention to the Woodwards' GoFundMe page and helped it gain more than $30,000 from its previous total. Above, Hullings with a firehouse

Young and Hullings started bringing attention to the Woodwards' GoFundMe page and helped it gain more than $30,000 from its previous total. Above, Hullings with a firehouse

Liz Woodward said she was 'grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something so positive and uplifting'

Woodward and her family hope to eventually start a nonprofit to help people who suffer brain aneurysms. She said she was 'grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something so positive and uplifting'

One anonymous donor inspired by the story gave $5,000. 

Steve Woodward was discharged from a hospital in Trenton as news of his daughter and the firefighters' kindness spread.

He is now doing well back at home, and his daughter says that the family ultimately wants to set up a nonprofit to help educate people about and help people who suffer brain aneurysms.

Liz Woodward said on Facebook, 'I'm truly blessed those two walked through the doors today and beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something so positive and uplifting.'

'My parents raised us to recognize those opportunities where you can do the right thing.' 

Most watched News videos

Comments 55

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.