Lafayette, IN — Megan Shufflebarger apparently wasn’t the only person listening to her young daughter Kinley’s “oohing” and “ahhing” in the toy isle of their local Target. A young man was also listening and helped make the little girl’s birthday extra special.
While the toddler stood in front of a row of dolls, the young man knelt next to her and asked which one was her favorite. “I really lub dis one,” she answered. After a chuckle, the teen walked off with the doll.
A short time later, the young stranger reappeared, this time he wasn’t empty handed. He handed Kinley’s mom a shopping bag and a receipt and told the little girl to “have a very happy birthday.”
Shufflebarger thanked him for his kindness shared the encounter along with a photo of the young man posing with her daughter on Facebook.
More than 50,000 shares later, someone recognized Kinley’s hero. A tag appeared on Shufflebarger’s post: Tario Fuller II, a freshman football player for Purdue University.
Purdue Athletics showed their pride, sharing the post on their own Facebook page. “We couldn’t be more proud of the type of young men and women in our athletics department.”
“Maybe this will inspire and humble others to pay it forward more often,” Shufflebarger hopes.
Kinley, who is never seen without a doll in her arms, may even replace her favorite doll “baby boy” with Fuller’s gift, Shufflebarger tells KHOU-TV.
