Recovering Addict Pays Toms River First Aiders' Breakfast Tab

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A group of Toms River First Aid Squad members have a message to deliver to a recovering addict who paid their breakfast tab at IHOP on Friday morning: Thank you.

Alyssa Golembeski and five other volunteers — Keri Murphy, Michael Dolch, Robert Tully, Patrick Masterson, and Larry Rosenberg — were having breakfast after spending the night answering calls in the part of Toms River served by the squad, which has been in existence since 1931.

As they were finishing up, Golembeski, the squad's captain, said their waitress brought over the bill with the following note: "Paid, Thank you for all you do! Have a great day!"

The note was simply signed "Recovering addict" with a smiley face. The woman told the restaurant's manager she wanted to remain anonymous.

"We'd all just come off the night shift," said Golembeski, who posted the note to the squad's Facebook page. "We just want her to be thanked for her kind gesture; and since she asked the manager to remain anonymous, we were unable to do so in person."

The bill for the six squad members was $77, Golembeski said.

"I am so humbled," she said.

On the Facebook page, she wrote: "This gift was amazingly thoughtful, and brought our table of tired EMTs to tears. We are so blessed to be able to serve you and everyone else who lives and works in the greater Toms River area. Good luck on your journey of recovery!"

"Her act of kindness definitely recharged and refreshed us all," Golembeski said.

If you're interested in volunteering with the Toms River First Aid Squad, check out the website.

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Photo courtesy of Alyssa Golembeski, published with permission