Yesterday we RAK’d a family who’s been going through some tough times. A member of their family has a terminal disease and is being treated for a blood infection. This has been an ongoing series of treatments in and out of the hospital for a variety of reasons related to cancer. When the family came in yesterday we wanted to spread some light into their world since they had spent the day at the hospital. We bought their dinner and then presented them with a few Gift Cards that they could share with those they wanted to thank or just shed some light to their day as we had theirs. Today they came in and bought $500 worth of gift certificates so they could thank the people surrounding their family members care and have been sharing them at the hospital. They wanted to keep going what we started. What a pretty big set of events we put in motion.
Childhood Sweethearts
We had a couple in celebrating their anniversary and from the moment they walked in they shared their story and love for each other. When they shared their story with Danika she came bouncing in to me and asked if we could please RAK this couple. They shared 43 years of marriage and additional years of courting. The wife had brought a quilt she made for her husband who was doting over his loving wife and thoughtful gift. So we let them enjoy their time together and then went over to share more positive vibes. I shared my envy of the time they have shared and wished them many years more of happiness and well being when I told them they had their bill paid for. They hugged me and continued to share their story as they were leaving the building. It was then that I learned they had been together since they were 19 years old and ironically their siblings had married each other and were celebrating over 30 years together! We can only ever hope to share that many years of love 🙂
Good Deed Done Double
A woman was dining by herself and couldn’t pay for her bill. She thought the card she had with her would cover the cost and said she had forgotten her purse. Well her card declined so the server discreetly gave her a Gift Card to pay for her bill. After we had taken care of things her friend brought her her purse. She in turn bought someone else’s dinner to show thanks for our gracious act so we gave her a RAK card to come back to continue the kindness
turned her day around
Jenny approached me after becoming aware that a woman at her table clearly was in distress. Two women were waiting for the third and fourth person to join their table. A highchair awaited one of them. After a short while a woman joined the party in tears. We don’t know the complete dynamics of what happened before she joined her friends but she wasn’t able to have her child with her tonight and Jenny overheard she wasn’t sure she could join her friends for dinner clearly stressed about payment for her meal. We wanted to do something to make her day and allow her some moments of happiness regardless of how brief they were. We decided to give her a GC to use tonight and one to join us again. She broke down in tears hugging Jenny and let us know that it was truly a remarkable thing we were doing because she couldn’t begin to express how terrible she felt in life at this time. The women left Jenny a wonderful note expressing how we turned someone’s day around and made an impression we aren’t able to even comprehend.
half a lifetime
Two guests dined in last night enjoying each other’s company and taking their time. One of our newer employees had sparked up a conversation with them while taking care of the couple and learned they were out celebrating 15 years !!!! we offered them dessert on the house for their anniversary which that alone they were touched. Once finished their dining experience I went over to congratulate them and show my admiration for spending half their lifetime with each other as I’m only on my five year anniversary. I wished them many more wonderful years and then let them know we took care of their bill. They were astounded and grateful
out all night
This was from the other night: We had a group of guys in the lounge that had been out plowing. One of them had been out for over 24 hours and stopped in for a break. We thanked him for our paved roads and offered him a 25 RAK to share with someone in his travels
rekindled friendships
Ten years ago we said goodbye to an employee that never forgot us. Our friend Lizzie came in tonight to show off her newborn baby girl. She and her boyfriend Josh were blessed with a beautiful baby girl just a few short months ago. I knew tonight when they came in that she and Josh, and Josh’s daughter Andrea, were out on a special occasion and weren’t able to go out often. It isn’t in their budget to frequent a dining experience so I definitely wanted to show them how we take care of our own and asked Andrea if she would help me give their parents a night on us by giving someone a random act of kindness. She accepted a $25 GC to give to someone of her choosing and gladly accepted the responsibility of helping pay for dinner tonight…..And i got to hold a beautiful baby girl -a night well spent
Flying Solo
Earlier this week a gentleman was dining by himself. His unkempt clothing and appearance led us to believe he may be homeless, without resources or someone to care for him. When Jackie approached me and asked if I thought I could do something for this gentleman, I certainly wanted him to feel at home amongst our family. I wanted to let him know he was welcome and potentially gain his favor to join us here whenever possible. He was so sweet and reminded Jackie of her father who dines alone. She wanted to let him know people still care for him and I believe he left feeling the way we intended.
Family Friendly
Today one of our servers, Amber, mentioned her admiration for a table that was engaged in spending quality time with their children. Instead of having iPhones out playing games or zombifying their dining experience they all interacted with our Magna Doodles. They were polite young children and their parents were interested in sharing their experience with their kids. I watched their table now and again during their visit and witnessed the same and was impressed at how lovely their children spoke to them, how engaging the parents were with their kids and how nice of an experience they were having. I wanted to give them something to remember T-BONES by and let them remember today as the day they could make someone else’s day. Its rare to see that kind of joy in a family and that kind of engagement. They talked about how they wanted to Pay It Forward and showed enormous enthusiasm for their next task.
Mind Your Manners
During a guest’s visit today, Jackie kept commenting on how amazed she was that this little boy had the most impressive manners. He was probably between 10-12 years old and required no prompting to communicate his manners properly. This was a refreshing scene! We presented the family with a RAK certificate and let him know it was his behavior that earned his family some free food! He outwardly showed his excitement. We also presented the task to help find someone to pay forward the kindness.