It was a quiet moment—easy to miss—yet it unfolded into a beautiful act of kindness right here in our amazing community. On a Saturday evening at Switch BBQ, a subtle gesture of generosity spoke volumes and reminded me why I love Dripping Springs.
As the restaurant was preparing to close, four men walked in, visibly exhausted—mud on their boots, eyes weary but alert. With only a few diners left and the staff winding down, we noticed them right away.
I overheard the men say that they had placed a to-go order, and they apologized for keeping the restaurant open right up to closing time. The two bartenders were more than gracious and quickly brought them cold beers. One bartender, just as curious as the rest of us, asked the men where they had been. It turns out, they had just returned from Hunt, Texas, where they’d spent the day helping a business and some families that were devastated by the historic floods from the previous weekend.
The weight of the experience was evident in their body language, but they shifted the focus, speaking only of the overwhelming support—from thousands of volunteers across the Hill Country—they had witnessed. They weren’t expecting anything; they were simply humble and grateful to grab a bite before heading home.
The team at Switch promptly showed their gratitude to these men and, without hesitation, brought out generous to-go plates of barbecue—brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and plenty of sides. But they didn’t stop there. The meals were on the house and the manager wouldn’t take no for an answer. The staff even bought the men a round of cold drinks and thanked them sincerely for their service to the broader Texas community. The men were surprised and utterly grateful.
There were no cameras, no announcements—just genuine appreciation for people who had given their time and strength to help strangers in need. It was a moment that reminded everyone present what kindness looks like: simple, quiet, and powerful. The staff at Switch BBQ chose compassion—and that kind of culture doesn’t happen by accident.
- Anonymous Contributor
Not every act of kindness comes with fanfare; sometimes, it’s a fleeting moment that reminds us of the goodness around us. At Dripping Springs City Lifestyle, we’re truly grateful that this experience was shared with us, and we are honored to now share it with you.
We reached out to Shane and Catherine Stiles, owners of Switch BBQ, to ensure they knew how their staff had represented their business in the community. In keeping with her team’s example, Catherine responded with gratitude and humility, thankful that we would help tell this story.
“We have a really great team and I’m so glad they were so gracious to those men,” she says. “Shane and I are big supporters of the communities where we operate our restaurants, but never for publicity. To know our team exemplifies those values is incredibly rewarding to us.”
Swing by Switch and share some love with the team—your visit will brighten their day!
StilesSwitchBBQ.com | @stilesswitchbbq