Alarm Bells
Alarm bells were going off in her head because she couldn’t understand what this group of men wanted from her. As they motioned for her to follow them to the back room, she knew she needed to get help and quickly.
Alarm Bells
No Time For A Break
Ashley Latella was a waitress at the Seagrape Cafe in Fairfield. She was working the night shift when she noticed a group of men walking in. The restaurant was extremely busy because of the holiday season and she was battling to keep up.
No Time For A Break
More And More Patrons
Students continued streaming in and taking their seats. Ashley noticed three men in the crowd and thought they looked like they didn’t belong there. The manager, Carlos Carmo, noticed them too. He meant to keep an eye on them but lost track.
More And More Patrons
Doing Her Job
Ashley rushed to their table to serve them. She couldn’t help but feel uneasy by their behavior. They ordered many rounds and every time she turned away she felt them staring at her and when she’d return they’d go suddenly quiet.
Doing Her Job
Difficult Patrons
Ashley had been waitressing for a long time and knew from experience that quiet patrons had a tendency to be difficult. If she ever felt uncomfortable she’d swap tables with another male staff member. Tonight was too busy for that.
Difficult Patrons
Hidden Agendas
Seagrape Cafe was a popular student bar. So why were these older men there? They were easily the oldest people there and looked like they didn’t belong there. Ashley’s gut told her that they had a hidden agenda, but what was it?
Hidden Agendas
Not Prepared For This
Ashley had encountered many different types of patrons, some good and some bad. Some were even rude and unfriendly. But she’d never encountered a customer that refused to settle their check. She wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen.
Not Prepared For This
This Was Just The Beginning
It was time for her to bring them the check and Ashley was relieved that the night was almost over. Soon she could go home and relax. When she asked to collect their payment they asked for something from her instead.
This Was Just The Beginning
What Did They Want?
Maybe they wanted more drinks? One of the men had put the folder with the check inside under his arm. When she tried to take it, he wouldn’t let her. He then held it just out of her reach as if teasing her.
What Did They Want?
No Patience For Games
She was too tired for games. Staring into her eyes, he pushed his chair back and stood up. His friends followed suit. Without a word, he signaled towards the backroom door. He motioned for her to follow, but she was hesitant.
No Patience For Games
Fear And Confusion
Ashley was so confused, she didn’t know exactly what they wanted from her and fear set in. The man insisted and moved in closer to whisper something in her ear. But she couldn’t hear him over the background noise and loud music.
Fear And Confusion
Her Thoughts Were Racing
She understood that they wanted to pay the check in private. At this point, Ashley was terrified and her thoughts were racing. She started scanning the room looking for the manager. Did they want to complain about her service?
Her Thoughts Were Racing
Unsure Of What To Think
Ashley was an attractive young girl and was used to patrons making advances, but she wasn’t sure if this was the case. She didn’t know what to think. She just knew that she didn’t want to go into the back room with these strangers.
Unsure Of What To Think
She Needed Help
She caught Carlos as he rushed past her. When he saw the fear in her eyes he knew she needed help. Ashley was so relieved he was there and she briefly explained the situation. He said he’d take over from here.
She Needed Help
The Customer Is Always Right
Carlos went with Ashley to the backroom to see what these men wanted. At first, he thought they were dissatisfied with their service and wanted to complain. Little did he know these men had Carlos and Ashley exactly where they wanted them.
The Customer Is Always Right
Behind Closed Doors
Ashley’s suspicions were confirmed once secluded in the backroom. These men had admitted to observing her all night. She knew that she was not just imagining things, and that fact comforted her slightly. But why were they observing her so much?
Behind Closed Doors
They Needed To Explain
The harsh truth is that many times, patrons can cross the line between being friendly to acting inappropriately. Sometimes this can happen even by accident, but Carlos knew he could never be too careful. He had a duty to protect his employees.
They Needed To Explain
The Reason Behind It All
Finally, after so much mystery, the men finally explained themselves. They said they noticed the other bartenders were run off their feet as well and they were impressed. Carlos let out a sigh of relief.
The Reason Behind It All
A Sigh Of Relief
Carlos was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief and relax. These men weren’t a danger after all. He was glad that he took the steps to make sure that everything was in order, but was even happier that there was nothing malicious going on.
A Sigh Of Relief
Couldn’t Believe His Eyes
When one of the mystery men handed Carlos the bill, he saw the gratuity amount that was written down and he couldn’t believe his eyes. He saw a five and two zeros – the bill was only $112 and this was a $500 tip! This was unheard of….
Couldn’t Believe His Eyes
The Amount Was Wrong
When Carlos thanked them for the $500 tip the men chuckled and told him to take a closer look. He was so overwhelmed by their generosity that he had looked at the bill too quickly. When he took a closer look, he was completely shaken…
The Amount Was Wrong
The Real Amount
After Carlos took a better look at the be, he saw the ‘extra’ zero that he had missed before. The tip was not $500, but actually $5,000! At this point, Ashley burst into tears and Carlos’ face went white.
The Real Amount
Mystery Men
After Carlos and Ashley were finally able to compose themselves, they were able to ask the all-important question. Who were these mystery men? What was it about the Seagrape Cafe that made them want to share their wealth and tip the staff such an exorbitant amount?
Mystery Men
The Lord’s Work
The man went explained how they’re part of a group that’s called “Tips for Jesus.” Their mission was ‘To do the Lord’s work one tip at a time.’ They had the financial means and wanted to spread God’s love using their resources. But that wasn’t all…
The Lord’s Work
A Countrywide Mission
These men had been traveling across the country visiting restaurants and leaving huge tips to hardworking servers. To date, the tips have amounted to $11,500 in Manhattan alone. Soon enough their story gained momentum through all social media platforms.
A Countrywide Mission
More Stories Surfaced
Once word got out about these guys, more people from all over America started coming forward and sharing their experiences on social media. But what were people doing with the money? Ashley knew exactly what she wanted to do with her share, and it is truly a heartwarming act.
More Stories Surfaced
A Generous Heart
Ashley has a generous heart and when she received that huge tip she knew she wanted to do something that was selfless. What she chose to do with the extra tip money was an amazing act of kindness that would bring a smile to many little faces.
A Generous Heart
Time To Shop
Ashley felt a sense of responsibility after being blessed with all this money. She felt she needed to pay it forward. She went to the local toy store and bought as many toys as she could and donated them to a charity.
Time To Shop
The Joy Of Giving
She was so overwhelmed by what these men did that she didn’t keep any money for herself. Instead, she chose to use all the money to buy toys for “Al’s Angels.” But this wasn’t the first time she’d given to the needy.
The Joy Of Giving
Sharing The Love
Ashley had in fact been trying to collect toys and blankets, and non-perishable foods for quite some time to donate to this charity. She had even approached some of her co-workers to see if they could donate anything, no matter how small.
Sharing The Love
A Gift At The Right Time
This gift she received from “Tips for Jesus” had come at the perfect time. These men had no way of knowing what a generous heart Ashley had and somehow they chose her. This goes to show how kindness results in kindness. There are so many more acts of kindness going on, but we often don’t hear about them. This man proved that there are so many good souls left in this world…
A Gift At The Right Time
Loyal Regulars
Christopher Nardelli is the owner of the Blue 44 restaurant in upper Northwest Washington. The restaurant has been open for four years. He has a loyal patron that obviously lives in the area and frequents his restaurant several times a month.
Loyal Regulars
What’s On The Menu?
His regular customer always comes back for the gumbo. Blue 44’s gumbo is apparently famous in that neighborhood. What makes it stand out from the rest is the chicken and andouille sausage and its dark roux base. It’s definitely a favorite.
What’s On The Menu?
Part Of The Family
The patron even communicates often via email with the chef, James Turner, regarding food pairings. They discuss what drinks pair better with what dish and even talk about new items on the menu. The staff at Blue 44 see him as family.
Part Of The Family
Open Communication
Recently James sent the regular patron an email to ask him when he was planning on coming to the restaurant so he could make sure to have his favorite gumbo ready for him. This was an indication that he was more than just a regular.
Open Communication
Another Gumbo Night
That night he had come with some friends and they ordered the usual gumbo. They had finished eating, got the check, paid, and left. No one had noticed that the check was still on the table well after they’d left the restaurant.
Another Gumbo Night
A Big Surprise
Later on that evening, the bartender, Laura Dally, noticed that the check was still on the table. She expected a good tip because he was a regular and was known for being a good tipper. But she was not expecting what she saw.
A Big Surprise
More Than Expected
Laura and the other bartenders on shift were shocked that anyone would leave such a huge tip on a check that was only $93. They’d heard about the tip challenge but none of them had been fortunate enough to experience it before.
More Than Expected
Closing Time
It was closing time and the three servers were busy cleaning up. That’s when Laura noticed the check on the table. Thank goodness she did, otherwise, it may have gotten lost. She immediately went to get Chris when she saw what was inside.
Closing Time
Utter Shock
The bartender, chef, and owner of the local bar on Connecticut Avenue were in utter shock when they realized that their regular patron had left a $2,000 on a $93 bill. They looked at each other thinking it might be a prank.
Utter Shock
Speechless Like Never Before
Laura was a very bubbly, chatty, and outgoing person that always had something to say. Except for tonight, she was completely speechless after seeing that gigantic tip. She kept double-checking and recounting to make sure she wasn’t imagining it.
Speechless Like Never Before
Prank Or Blessing?
Laura wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Maybe she was being pranked by her co-workers. Or maybe this really was a blessing from someone that did a random act of kindness. Laura and Chris went into his office.
Prank Or Blessing?
How Did This Happen?
They couldn’t believe that this had happened to them. They had heard about the Tips for Jesus group and about the tip challenge but they thought it only happened to servers in restaurants in the Midwest or the West Coast.
How Did This Happen?
A Usual Tip
As most people are aware, the usual amount to tip is 15% of the check. This was far more than that. What were they meant to do with the money? All three were on shift that night and they all worked hard.
A Usual Tip
Instructions For Them
When they opened the check envelope they saw along with the credit card slip showing a $2,000 tip, alongside a note. The note had instructions on how they had to divide the money among the three of them.
Instructions For Them
Sharing The Tip
The patron had really thought about this and planned this ahead of time. He has explained that James the chef was to take $1,000 and then $500 was for Laura and the other $500 for the owner, Chris.
Sharing The Tip
Why So Generous?
They were all extremely grateful to this patron for being so generous and tipping them such a huge tip. But they were all wondering why them? What was it about them that urged this patron to be so generous with them?
Why So Generous?
The Reason
There had to be a reason why the man had done it. Maybe he was very wealthy and didn’t know what to do with his money and thought to give some away? Maybe he just appreciated their service and hard work?
The Reason
Another E-mail
The following day, Chris decided to email the patron to express his gratitude. He thanked him for being so generous and explained how they had divided the money the way he had instructed. And that’s when he got an explanation.
Another E Mail
A Response
The patron replied to the email straight away. He explained how the staff had always made him feel so welcome and that he was proud to be a customer of Blue 44. And this was his way of expressing his gratitude.
A Response
Spending Wisely
All three of them have decided to spend their portion of the tip wisely and not go on a shopping bender. When someone shows you kindness through financial means, it encourages you to pay it forward and show kindness back.
Spending Wisely
Family Comes First
Chris plans to use a portion of the money towards his children. The monthly day-care bills can be a heavy burden and this money will help alleviate that burden. James is also using it for his family and they’re both donating to a charity.
Family Comes First
Furthering Her Studies
Laura doesn’t have a family to take care of yet so she said she will be using her share of the tip to further her studies. She wishes to do a summer class at Montgomery College so she can do something more with her life.
Furthering Her Studies
A Brighter Future
Laura has always wanted to study to become an occupational therapist. She had started waitressing to try to make some money so she could save up to pay for her studies on her own without relying on student loans.
A Brighter Future
Appreciation Shown
Laura was so happy to receive that tip because she felt very flattered by it. A bartender’s job can be very unsatisfying at times. So it was really nice that someone went out of their way to show their appreciation the way they did.
Appreciation Shown
Undeserving
Although Laura says she has always given her best at work, she somehow feels undeserving of such a big tip. She considers herself a good bartender that’s helpful and kind but she never thought she’d ever get a tip like that.
Undeserving
First Time
Chris and Laura have said that in 10 years of working in the restaurant industry neither of them has ever received a tip so big. The best was the note on the back of the check which read, “Thank you for the Gumbo.”
First Time
A New Challenge
In addition to the ‘Tips for Jesus’ movement, there’s a new #challenge and it’s called ‘tip the bill challenge.’ Anyone that wants to can take part in the fun while spreading love. You don’t need to be ultra-wealthy to participate.
New Challenge
Matching Cent For Cent
The challenge is about ordering something off the menu and no matter what the check is, matching the total sum as gratuity. Some people have even taken it a step further and are leaving a lot more, but that’s to their discretion.
Matching Cent For Cent
What Is The Right Amount?
This challenge couldn’t have come at a better time. People have expressed that they don’t know how much they should be tipping nowadays. For that reason, tips have been minimal lately. So what is the right amount exactly?
What Is The Right Amount?
A Fair Figure
For those who don’t know, the recommended amount is between 15% and 20% of the total check. That’s what you should be budgeting for when you go out for a meal. Servers work really hard and deserve a fair amount for their service.
A Fair Figure
Happy To Participate
However, the people that are able and willing to participate in the challenge are happy to match the total. Each restaurant has its regular customers, and they’re usually the ones that are happy to participate, like this regular restaurant-goer from Northwest Washington.
Happy To Participate
A Positive Message
While many times social media can be a way for negative news to be shared, sometimes there are heartwarming stories that go viral that remind us that there is good left in the world. Stories like Ashley’s help remind us that humanity is not all bad.
What’s Trending?
