Teenage boy's lunchtime kindness goes viral

“Mama, can you make me TWO lunches today?”

This is the question Josette Duran was asked by her 14-year-old son.

And while the New Mexico mum initially thought she wasn’t feeding him enough, her concerns were quickly put to bed when it was revealed the extra food was for one of Dylan’s classmates.

“..its for this boy. He only eats a fruit cup for lunch can you make him lunch too? I don’t think he has lunch money.”

Josette sent Dylan to school with sandwiches and snacks for both boys for over a month, along with some encouraging sticky note messages.

While this incredibly kind gesture understandably made Josette proud, it has also taken the internet by storm after she shared the original conversation on Facebook.

Speaking about the experience to USA Today, the volleyball teacher shared that she didn’t know much about her son’s new friend until last week when she met he and his mum at Dylan’s school, an encounter she was initially anxious about.

“Because in this day and age, when you try to help somebody, some people get offended by it. People aren’t used to kindness,” she said.

“So I was kind of scared. I didn’t want her (the mom) to think that I was stepping on her toes, or crossing boundaries, but she was very, very thankful and told me so. She told me how much she appreciated what we did.”

The boy is now receiving federally funded meals and Josette is back to making just one lunch a day.

“I stopped making two lunches last Wednesday, and it feels kind of lonely not making two anymore,” Duran laughed.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS in the comments below.

Main image: Josette Duran

18 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 26 Nov 2021
    12:25 pm
She has done a wonderful job in raising a good young Man.

- - mom81879 said
  - 09 Jan 2017
    6:49 pm
What an awesome boy. So caring. His friend is very lucky. Mum is pretty generous too, to allow this boy 2 lunches a day

- - curlytops said
  - 16 Dec 2016
    12:31 pm
what a lovely caring boy to help out a friend at school, and also the mum for taking on the role of making an extra lunch so the child does not go hungry. This is real charity.

- - ella12 said
  - 24 Oct 2016
    2:45 pm
That is lovely. Always nice to see youngsters being thoughtful.

- - rovermum said
  - 24 Oct 2016
    10:21 am
This is such a lovely and kind thing to do. What a fantastic boy to be so aware, caring and empathetic. It is truly sad how many children are sent to school either unfed, with a can of Pepsi for breakfast, and/or no lunch for the day. I think schools are getting better at managing these situations and being aware.

- - tessie said
  - 22 Oct 2016
    12:51 pm
What a kind heart her son has to think of someone else. I think the Mum would probably been a bit embarrassed but also deeply thankful for the thought. I’m glad the other mum is now getting help for her son’s meals. It’s good to know there are still kind hearted people out there

- - june11 said
  - 21 Oct 2016
    9:12 pm
I have been abused by onlookers when I have helped a Mum at a Shopping Centre and told to mind my own f**king business. When I went shopping the following week I was abused by the same people again. I knew why the Mum was struggling. I found out a couple of weeks later she was deliberately going shopping at a different time to avoid me being harrassed by others.

- - mom81879 said
  - 21 Oct 2016
    8:04 am
What a lovely kind hearted boy! And what a generous mum to feed this extra child lunch everyday. I hope it’s been sorted now

- - mom134803 said
  - 21 Oct 2016
    7:31 am
Beautiful how mum and son were able to reach out to this classmate and that it was well received !
It’s good for us all to be open and look out for those who’re in need.

- - mom65487 said
  - 20 Oct 2016
    10:59 pm
Beautiful people still exist, what a wonderful man this mother is raising (both) xx

- - mom101628 said
  - 20 Oct 2016
    10:29 pm
How kind of the son and his generous mum – so pleased to hear that the right people are now involved for the future.

- - mom101628 said
  - 20 Oct 2016
    10:25 pm
Good on you mum – generous and thoughtful. Great that help was able to be organised.

- - henrysmumma said
  - 20 Oct 2016
    10:04 pm
What a generous young man. My biggest wish as a mother is that my son is as kind as this boy. Kindness and good character means more than grades!

- - Beck1986 said
  - 20 Oct 2016
    9:54 pm
Wow what a kind young man! You don’t hear of things like this enough anymore I hope this kind of kindness happens more and more especially with kids that way the generations will hopefully keep it going. Since the older generations seem to have miss placed their kindness.

- - mom90758 said
  - 20 Oct 2016
    3:46 pm
It was very kind of the boy to think about his class mate! And for the mum to prepare double lunch every day.
(Even if personally, sorry, I don’t like the lunch choices she made. Sorry! 🙂 )

- - mom160421 said
  - 20 Oct 2016
    2:47 pm
A little kindness can go a long way.

- - lspew said
  - 20 Oct 2016
    11:50 am
How kind of the boy and his family. Not alot of that kind of thoughtfullness around anymore.

- - mom112217 said
  - 20 Oct 2016
    11:15 am
Such a wonderful boy to reach out to another in need.