Starbucks employee in viral video: Is being nice a big deal?

After the weekend bombings in New York, a photographer captured a Starbucks employee named Germaine delivering bags full of coffee, pastries and drinks to the police and firefighters at the scene of the Chelsea blast.

A viral video of the small act of decency Sunday afternoon was viewed more than 14 million times online.

>> Watch the video here

ACT OF KINDNESS

ACT OF KINDNESS » As NYPD Guards the Explosion Scene Created by the Worst in People, First Responders Get Free Starbucks Delivered by New Yorkers, Seeing the Best in People We flew a crew to NYC to cover the #ChelseaNYC explosions the governor called terrorism this morning. Officials have not yet linked it to an international group. More stories like this to come.

Posted by KnightNews.com on Sunday, September 18, 2016

>> Starbucks employee delivers coffee, food to police officers after New York explosion

On Monday, that employee, identified as store manager Germaine Zolkos, asked: “What does it say about our society that being nice is a big deal?”

>> Explosions in NY and NJ: What we know now

"It was the least I could do," Zolkos said in a story posted on the Starbucks website. "I wish I could have done more."

>> Watch a follow-up video from KnightNews.com

We caught up with Germaine, the Starbucks employee whose act of kindness - giving free coffee and pastries to #ChelseaNYC first responders - went viral. He hopes his act of kindness will inspire people to bring more positivity in everyday life.

Posted by KnightNews.com on Monday, September 19, 2016

Zolkos added, “I didn’t think there would be a huge reaction to just dropping off Starbucks, but the officers were definitely happy to see me and then I later found out someone was recording it. So many people are telling me I did something really special. I like to care for others, so this was just natural for me. Anyone who comes into my store and other Starbucks around New York City gets this same kind of personal attention. It’s who we all are.”

>> Read more trending stories

According to the article on Starbucks' site, Zolkos wants to teach his three children, including a son with autism, "to care about others around them."

"If nothing else, I now have a video that helps them realize what can happen when you're a kind person, and they'll have a story to tell about their dad," Zolkos said.

>> Read the full story on Starbucks' website

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