Three-year-old Tyler, who has autism, now has a lifetime supply of his favourite snack. Photo / Supplied
Three-year-old Tyler, who has autism, now has a lifetime supply of his favourite snack. Photo / Supplied
A Brisbane mum struggling to find her autistic son's favourite food was "gobsmacked" by the response of a company after they hand-delivered a box for free.
Leanne Page, 40, from Morayfield, north of Brisbane, was on the hunt for Keith's Foods Mini Dagwood Dogs.
Food selectivity is a common issue for children with autism and the product is one of the only foods her 3-year-old son Tyler eats.
She had visited her local Woolworths about a month previously only to discover they had run out of the popular sausage on a stick.
"I couldn't find it anywhere in a 50km radius of where we live and all I did was call them and ask if they discontinued the stock and where I could buy them from. I never expected them to hand-deliver me a box for free," Page told news.com.au.
"To have all this happening, I am absolutely blown away. I have never cried so much in my life."
Page said to her surprise and delight she spoke to a lovely lady by the name of Karen who went above and beyond to find her little boy a box of 30 and drive an hour-and-a-half just to deliver it.
Four days following the unexpected gesture, Page said she received a phone call from Karen with yet another surprise.
"She said she spoke to her boss and they have decided that for however long my son eats these products they would supply us with 150 free," the mum wrote in the popular Facebook group The Kindness Pandemic.
"I was totally gobsmacked and don't know how to thank them.
"Now my son can eat as much as he likes. My faith in humanity has been restored."
Page told news.com.au the Queensland-based frozen food manufacturing business had a food shortage due to difficulties sourcing key ingredients from Melbourne amid the pandemic.
Tyler's mum Leanne was 'blown away' by the kind gesture. Photo / Supplied
She said for Karen to make the long trek and personally deliver the only food he eats, particularly in such a troubling time, left her speechless.
She shared the story to popular Facebook group The Kindness Pandemic on Wednesday and since then it has gone on to attract almost 10,000 likes and hundreds of comments from people also in awe of the thoughtful response.
"That is beautiful – firstly from them and then from you. My eight-year-old son has ASD and only has 14 foods, if something is out of stock it's devastating." one woman wrote.
"Well this company needs to be supported by all. How lovely. Googling them now," another wrote.
"It seems this pandemic has been a recipient of many kind acts," said a third person, while a fourth added, "So wonderful to know that there are still companies out there who really CARE and support their customers. So happy for you and your little boy."
Page said when Karen delivered the second box, she had a bunch of flowers and card ready as a way to say thanks.
