A Chatham-Kent police officer found himself caught up in a social media trend following an act of kindness that has now gone viral.
A video posted online on Friday showed Sergeant Jason Herder picking up food for his colleagues at Mr. Sub in Chatham when he noticed a man who could not afford his lunch. The young employee behind the counter was the first to offer to help the man out by paying for his meal. Sergeant Herder had also quietly stepped in to cover the cost.
“It’s hard to get by in today’s times, and I figured they shouldn’t have to have done that, so I had no issue picking up that gentleman’s sub,” said Herder, recalling the interaction, which happened back in December 2024.
However, unbeknownst to Sergeant Herder and the restaurant employee, the man had been filming the entire interaction for his social media account “Bless a Stranger.” The online influencer quickly returned to reward the employee’s kindness with $100 in cash.
Remaining humble, Herder credited the young employee for being so quick to show kindness to someone who appeared to be in need.
“The hero at the end of the day for that whole exchange was that employee. She stepped up right off the bat when he was explaining the scenario. It was awesome to be in a room, seeing that kindness, and I was happy to do my part to help out as well,” said Herder.
Now posted on several social media accounts, the video has garnered over three million views on TikTok and Instagram.
“It was just an all-around really experience, and I’m happy to see it out there,” said Herder. “It was a really cool thing to be a part of.
“It’s nice to see the kindness our community has.”
Along with his role as a police officer, Herder is known in the community for his fundraising efforts for Special Olympics Ontario through organizing events such as the CK Polar Plunge and the Mike Currie Memorial run.
@blessastranger She was willing to pay for my sandwich 🥹❤️ #sandwhich #sub #kind ♬ original sound – Bless A Stranger
