VISTA, Calif. — There's nothing better than putting a smile on the face of a child.
In this Zevely Zone, I went to the Chick-fil-A in Vista where a senior in need is offering his special talent.
Every Monday at the Chick-fil-A in Vista they offer free kids meals but that isn't the only reason the place is blowing up with attention. 92-year-old Hugh Hatch is a Chick-fil-A regular who enjoys a quiet meal every Monday. "They know his order by heart. He usually gets his nuggets or strips depending on the day with honey mustard," said Luis Gomez, the owner of Chick-fil-A in Vista.
Two years ago, Hugh's wife, Billie, of 64 years died.
"Sometimes people just need someone to talk to," said Luis.
Not only did Luis offer Hugh friendship but a job.
"You want a cat? Yes, you do want a cat?" said Hugh. The kids call the master balloon artist 'Mr. Hugh'.
"I would like a flower," said one boy. Mr. Hugh's passion for tying balloons started 60 years ago. He has traveled the world and tied balloons everywhere he's gone. "There you got a Teddy Bear," said Mr. Hugh while handing a balloon to a little girl.
"He just enjoys making the kids smile," said customer Darci Holloway who has watched Mr. Hugh's fast fingers respond to every request. "Whether it's a sword, a flower, a motorcycle, a wiener dog, or a poodle," said Darci.
"Mr. Hugh would do this for free," said Luis. When we told Luis that Hugh told us his wife passed away two years ago and this job gave him a new life, Luis told us this, "Wow, that's amazing, that helps me feel like we are doing our part."
There's a reason Luis offers 'Family Night' every Monday. "Growing up I never asked for Chick-fil-A because we were not ever in that position that I felt comfortable asking my parents to take me to Chick-fil-A because I knew that it was expensive," said Luis.
This is why, all of the children 12 and under on Mondays at the Chick-fil-A in Vista eat for free from 5-7 pm.
I asked one girl which was better an ice cream cone or a balloon? She told me, "A balloon puppy."
Mr. Hugh himself loves the chicken nuggets at Chick-fil-A, but anyone there will tell you, that's not what fills him up. "Mr. Hugh is part of our family," said Luis. When I asked Mr. Hugh how his night was going, he told me with the biggest smile ever, "Fantastic! It fills my soul; it fills my soul."
You can catch Mr. Hugh on Monday nights 5-7 p.m. at Chick-Fil-A at 475 Hacienda Drive in Vista. He volunteers his time and his skills to entertain kids who gather at Chick-fil-A on Mondays, a night the owner has designed a free meal night for kids for a limited time.