Good Samaritan Helps Jewish Temple Collect Baby Items For Catholic Outreach Program

LIVINGSTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- In a season when everyone seems to be racing around, people like Arleen Lichtenstein are busy buying for others.

She helps collect cash, clothing and food from fellow Temple B'Nai Abraham members in Livingston, New Jersey for a Catholic outreach program in Newark, CBS2's Jessica Layton reported.

"The need is huge, we have people lined up," Lichtenstein said.

On Monday, her mission took her to the checkout line at Costco. With a budget of $750, she filled three large carts for those families barely getting by.

"We had gone over our allocation," she said.

Inside the cart that she thought she had to send back were several baby items, including five big boxes of diapers.

"There was a man behind us," she explained. "Without another thought, he said, 'I'm going to buy those for your program.'"

That man was Lux Chakrapani who paid a couple hundred dollars to cover the cost of the donations for the kids.

"This was one of those chances that you get. I was just in the right place," he said.

The selfless act turned strangers into friends and allowed Lichtenstein to help even more families this year.

"I'm a Hindu, and I'm in a temple where a Jewish organization is helping a Catholic church in Newark," Chakrapani said. "That message is a good one."

They hope their message of humanity will last through the whole holiday season and well beyond.