Eric McKay is a 15-year old boy residing in Woodbridge in Virginia. And he is truly special. He has a magnanimous heart full of love for others, will do all he can to help others, loves peanut butter, and is autistic. His love for peanut butter is so much that he can get through one jar in just about three days.
Eric’s mother Tracy McKay generally stocks up the butter because of her son’s love for the same. It is also widely known that people with autism have preferences for specific food items, reducing their diets to food items that they are comfortable with.
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The last time, she had purchased six jars of Lidl’s peanut butter for 78 cents a piece. Now when this supply was finishing, Eric tweeted to Lidl about when it would have a sale and, in return, got 72 jars. But the game soon got bigger! Lidl challenged Eric to get 72,000 retweets for a lifetime supply of the butter.
And Eric took the challenge and how! He initially had only 5 followers on Twitter, but with the help of his three sisters, family, and friends, the retweeting game began to pick some momentum. However, when former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and British author Neil Gaiman retweeted the tweet, Eric knew that he would certainly reach his goal. And soon enough, he did! Honouring its commitment, Lidl gave him a ‘peanut butter card’ so that he could replenish his stock whenever his supplies were low.
BEAN HAS BEEN OFFERED A LIFETIME SUPPLY OF PEANUT BUTTER IF HE GETS 72,000 RTS TO HIS TWEET. He’s autistic, that’s what he eats. Let’s get him his PBJs. RT his original tweet.
(If you’re worried about his health or nutrition see posts from his mother on original thread.) https://t.co/G7U3Iey7hQ
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 11, 2019
But that’s not the happy ending of the story.
Eric’s dad works for the federal government and is currently facing the brunt of the government shutdown in the United States, which is now the longest ever in its history. Because he is the primary source of income for the family, the McKay’s are facing tough times.
And what does Eric do in this scenario? He begins to donate the jars of peanut butter to furloughed workers! What a fantastic use of the lifetime supply of the butter that he has! He has already donated jars on 23rd January and is planning on another donation drive soon.
I’m giving away some of my peanut butter, and if you are furloughed like my dad you can have some. I hope my dad is working but he’ll be there if he’s still not. #LidlBeanutButter https://t.co/BoTk8TnFWu
— Philosopher Bean (@BeanPhilosopher) January 21, 2019
Aren’t stories like these testimonies to the fact that goodness and kindness in the world still exist? Hats off to Eric and the McKays!
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