Group Leaves $1,200 Tip For Paterson Waitress

PATERSON, NJ – In hopes of inspiring others to perform good deeds this holiday season, a group of friends left a $1,200 cash tip for a waitress in Paterson over the weekend.

On Saturday morning, Zellie Imani met up with about of a dozen friends at IHOP in Paterson and each brought $100 to tip their stunned server.

Imani said he learned about it from a friend, Jaylin Thomas, who shared a story about diners in Colorado doing something similar, called Shock and Clause, where patrons each bring $100 to tip a waiter or waitress as a way to "generously spread holiday cheer."

"She reposted the link on fb asking who would be willing to do something similar. Many people responded and a date and location was organized," he said.

Thomas, an activist and teacher in New Jersey, said their waitress was so taken aback that she tried to return the tip to them.

"When given the money for the bill, after counting, she proceeded to give it back saying, 'We paid too much.' When we told her it was all for her, her reaction was priceless. It was a privilege to be someone else’s blessing," he said.

"If you and your friends have the capacity and heart to pool your money to give a large tip to a waitress this holiday season that you know deserves it. I encourage it," the man tweeted. "You’ll be surprised how many of your friends would be supportive of the idea!"

Today, i was apart of something that I hope becomes an annual holiday tradition.

A group of us gathered for breakfast at the Paterson @IHOP each bringing $100. We paid the bill and gave our waitress a $1,200 tip.

It really is a privilege to be someone else’s blessing! pic.twitter.com/soa8wmZzt1
— zellie (@zellieimani) December" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/zellieiman... 14, 2019