My Mom Was Fired for Helping Someone in Need — Years Later, I Got the Perfect Chance to Set Things Right

My mom, Cathy, worked at Beller’s Bakery for 18 years and was beloved by everyone in our small town. One rainy evening, she gave leftover pastries to a homeless veteran — food that would’ve been thrown away anyway. The next morning, her new manager, Derek, fired her on the spot for “violating company policy.” I was a teenager then and could only watch as she came home in tears, folding away her sunflower apron for good.

Ten years later, I had built a successful food-tech company that partnered with local shops to donate unsold food to shelters. One day, I was reviewing applications for a leadership role and saw Derek’s name. I recognized him immediately — same smug face, same resume. He had no idea who I was. Out of curiosity, I scheduled an interview, and sure enough, he bragged about firing “an older lady” for giving away food. He thought it made him look strong.