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Harrison HS swimmers pay it forward with kind gesture

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – A group of swimmers from Harrison High School were in Indianapolis when they experienced a moment they will never forget.

“We’re just sitting, eating and this guy walks in, steals the tip jar and runs out,” Harrison swim team captain Andrew Baldwin said.

The swim team was in Indianapolis for the boys high school state swimming meet. After preliminaries, they went to dinner at a local sub shop. Then all of the sudden, a man walked in, grabbed the tip jar and took off.

“We’re all just sitting around, kind of confused for a couple minutes,” said Baldwin.

According to swim team coach Beth Brown, the manager said this wasn’t the first time this happened.

“She did say that, that had happened a number of times before and was frustrated that it had happened,” said Brown.

That is when the guys on the swim team came together and tried to make things right.

“One by one, the boys walked over to the counter top and put money back behind the counter where the tip jar had been,” said Brown.

Although the manager had insisted they don’t replace the money, the boys did anyway.

“We thought it would be cool if everyone pitched in, so we all threw in a couple bucks. Laid it on the counter and walked out,” said swim team member Adam Decker.

Brown added, “I’m surrounded by young adults who have really strong character and wonderful qualities.”

She said one of the employees was stunned at the kind gesture from the boys. As of right now, Brown said she has not heard any other information about the man who took the tip jar.