I have 2 nails in the wall in my shop which are reserved for tubes. One is marked "good tubes" and the other "Bad tubes"

I always carry a spare tube on a ride as well as a patch kit. First flat - I switch for the good tube. Second and subsequent flats - I patch.

Normally though, I make all my repairs to tubes in the shop and try to keep a tube or so on the "Good Tube" nail.

I somehow doubt that she gave a tube to anyone that day. She has just learned to say that since being denied help earlier when she actually told a cyclist that she never carries one.