Considering a pay it forward jar… your thoughts, please.
I would like your feedback on this idea (taken from a National Post op/ed piece by Judy Pollard Smith CLICK HERE).
[There is] a new concept restaurant in our city. It’s a kind of a pay it forward place, where those who can have an opportunity to buy lunch for those who cannot, simply by buying buttons that represent dollars. Five dollars buys you five buttons. The buttons go into a jar and somebody, or maybe a whole family like the family who ate beside us today, can pay with buttons and eat for free.
As I see it, when there are enough buttons to buy lunch for a family then I will reach out to a local agency and let them know and we would figure out a way to make a reservation and serve supper to someone in the neighbourhood. I like the idea of buying lunch for families … kids … that otherwise would not afford the pleasure of supper out. I would contribute a discount on the price.
I have a couple of concerns about this, though.
How do I offer this without stigmatizing a family or embarrassing them? In other words, how do I find the recipient of the pay it forward?
Will this affect the tips that my staff receive? If customers buy buttons instead of tipping then, in essence, it is my staff who are making this donation and this is not fair to them.
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I LOVE this idea. Pay it forward is such a wonderful way to soften the blows of this world - for both giver and receiver.
I think a note reminding people this is not instead of tipping but on top of will be sufficient explanation. Anyone who is going to do it will get that.
Keep the love flowing.
Claire
I live in the neighbourhood and would like to tell you a story. When I first moved to the area, money was very tight. We had saved up for a treat and the amount saved included budget for a 15% tip. I took my daughters out for weekend breakfast at a pub down the road from your place. The service was disappointing (as in we ending up eating with our bare hands, after multiple failed attempts to obtain cutlery) but I had still planned to tip. We all have bad days. After the server received her tip, she came back to the table asking for a donation for the cause-de-jour as we were packing up. I declined. She went away and was sent back out with our bill to ask again. I think it was a children’s charity and she was embarrassing me in front of my children. It was not likely her intent but she was so aggressive about it and refused to take no for an answer. I redirected her tip to the charity. It’s all we had budgeted. I felt bad, she felt bad, and the children were just very confused by my behaviour. I was at a loss to explain what had happened. That is a long story, and all to say I have never taken them back into that place since it happened. I have been in your place a few times for a treat. One time it was your treat. It was much appreciated and I do what I can to pay it forward. I think as long as you set it up in such a way that doesn’t embarrass anybody or short charge your team, you’re good to go and doing more good.
Both excellent, helpful comments.
I lean towards starting something. But I need to give this some thought so that it is:
(1) Not being bourne on the backs of my staff;
(2) Not obtrusive or upsetting to my guests; and
(3) Easy, gracious, and fun for the recipients.
Dave,
This is a wonderful idea. I will gladly tell you how we have done it before in the neighbourhood. Let’s talk!
Karen
Hi Dave,
Was delighted to see an excerpt from my National Post article about the pay it forward restau on your website today (Was browsing and up it came.)
The name of the restaurant in Hamilton of which I was speaking is “541 Eatery and Exchange” at 541 Barton Street.
You could ask them how they make it happen. It’s run by a church but that is not evident, I assume so that everyone feels welcome no matter what they believe.
Good luck with it.
Judy