07/08/2026
Yesterday at the store was one of those days I’ll never forget.
A sweet lady walked into our store just trying to get out of the heat. We started talking, and after a while I realized something wasn’t right. She kept telling me someone was coming to get her, but the story kept changing, and I knew I couldn’t just let her walk away.
After hours of trying to figure out who to call (including fighting with a phone that kept dying), I finally reached her neighbor.
That’s when I learned she has dementia.
She had accidentally driven almost three hours away from home and somehow ended up in Valdosta. We later found out she had already been helped by Valdosta Police the night before after becoming stranded near Exit 16. Somehow, she ended up walking all the way from that area to our store on East Park Avenue… in this South Georgia heat.
What really broke my heart was learning she doesn’t have children or close family nearby. Her neighbor told me they look out for each other every day, and without hesitation, he and his daughter drove almost 200 miles to come get her.
Seeing her safely reunited with someone she trusted made every bit of the stress worth it.
Yesterday reminded me that sometimes people don’t need judgment or assumptions—they just need someone willing to slow down and notice that something isn’t right.
Please check on your elderly neighbors and loved ones. A few extra minutes of kindness can make all the difference. 💚🖤
Lastly, I want to thank everyone who helped make sure Miss Karen got home safely.
💚 Josh—thank you for dropping everything, making that drive, and for the love and care you’ve shown Miss Karen and her husband. They are truly blessed to have you.(Will tag him if I find his FB)
👮 Thank you to the Valdosta Police Department officer who helped us locate her car, put a donut on her flat tire, and helped us get it started. Your kindness didn’t go unnoticed.
🔧 Thank you to 24/7 Tire Service in Valdosta for being open and helping get her safely back on the road.
