Target shopper inspires others to 'pay it forward'

SHERWOOD, Ore. (WHDH) -- One stranger’s act of kindness at a Target store in Oregon has been inspiring others to pay it forward.

Debra Durall was looking for inspiration and by the time she left work last Wednesday, she had found it at register 11 at a Target in Sherwood, Oregon.

“I cried all the way home and I just thanked the lord,” she said.

A customer's credit card was denied, but the bill was quietly paid by a stranger.

“I'm like it's a lot. It's $161.85 and she says that's OK, I’ve needed help before and I want to help them,” said Durall.

The generous stranger left before the family did. It was Durall’s job to tell them.

“The wife started tearing up. She goes, ‘why would anybody do that for me?’ It really touched me,” said Durall.

It inspired that struggling family too and the kindness began to spread.

“He looks at me and he goes, ‘you know what? I didn't have enough for my bill, but I have a $20 bill and I’m going to pay that for her.”

“She ended up giving me the money she was going to spend. The next person came through the line which I believe were the two teenage girls.”

“They're teenagers! What would I have done as a teenager, score! I wouldn't pass it on to the next person, but they did it.”

And the money left over from that went on to yet another person.

It's overwhelming for Debra who feels she has learned a lesson that simple kindness can go as far as that $161 one woman decided to pay.

“I will always remember her and she has no idea the impact she made on how many people, she just has no idea,” said Debra.