Missouri man’s Taco Bell order took 42 mins. Then he sees a server working solo, so he raises money on her behalf: ‘Her manager needs to be fired’

Getting a Taco Bell fix late at night is still unmatched. A Missouri man went to Taco Bell in the evening to satisfy his taco cravings, but he didn’t expect such a wait for what’s supposed to be “fast” good. He says it took 42 long minutes to get his meal, but when he saw the situation at the counter, he responded with empathy.

Brad Bartow (@brad.bartow) noticed there was only one worker on duty at the Taco Bell where he was trying to order food. “She’s the only one working here, and look at this,” he said. In a now-deleted video, Bartow filmed a teenage Taco Bell employee single-handedly running the entire front of house, taking orders, preparing food, and handling customers. As a massive line formed in the drive-thru and a group of men waited inside, the young worker continued to smile and maintain a positive attitude, beaming with joy despite the overwhelming workload.

“I waited 42 minutes, and she’s in there all alone,” he shared. Feeling sympathy for the overwhelmed worker, Bartow asked if she had Cash App so he could send her a tip. The young employee hesitated, uncertain if she was allowed to accept it. “I have to call my boss,” she told him. Bartow thought the boss should be contacted, but to get the worker some much-needed help, not just to approve a tip.

The man is a blessing for the Taco Bell worker

Bartow finally convinced the girl to give him her Cash App. He created a GoFundMe to raise money for the young employee. “That gal’s in there just working her tail off. The fellas that were acting all wild in there tried to help her,” he continued. Bartow imagined what he would’ve done in her shoes. “I would probably have walked out and just left the place open,” he shared.

The creator provided an update on TikTok, saying the GoFundMe has since raised $13,500 and he is in contact with her family. “Mama did want me to tell everybody that J’Kyra is 19 years old,” he shared. “She has no means of transportation, and the first thing she wants to do with all the money y’all have given is buy herself a car.” Both Bartow and Taco Bell have not responded for an interview, as of writing.

Viewers in the comment section expressed genuine admiration for the Taco Bell employee’s dedication, while some criticized the fast-food chain for its lack of proper staffing. “It takes a strong person to run a fast food place by themselves! This is so sweet. She deserves it all,” one TikTok commenter wrote. “I used to work with her. She’s a great kid! Unfortunately, that Taco Bell does stuff like that often,” another added. “Her manager needs to be fired,” a third commented. “How embarrassing for Taco Bell,” a fourth shared.

According to Yahoo, Taco Bell has long dominated the late-night game and is a big factor for the business’s overall bottom line. In 2024, Taco Bell had $17 million in total sales, and its busiest times are at night. However, staffing issues aren’t unique to restaurants open 24/7.

Mashed noted that on a typically understaffed night, there is usually just one person on service, one in the kitchen, and a manager. By contrast, a standard day shift will have around 10 to 15 workers. This means overnight employees must be well-versed in all restaurant tasks, from grilling and food prep to handling cash and operating point-of-sale machines. Additionally, the late-night environment can expose workers to heightened risks, from increased vulnerability to crime to fatigue-related accidents, according to TraknProtect.