Trainees at Ten Friends Diner in Windsor are overwhelmed after the community donated $1,100 following a theft at the restaurant on Wyandotte Street East.
Trainee Gerard Newman said a couple came in recently to eat. They did not pay their bill, and they took off with the tip jar which had about $80 in it.
Newman said it upset the staff since the tips are generally spread around, but then something happened to restore their faith.
"We had numerous people come in with $50 bills, $100 bills who said, 'here, this is for the diner,'" said Newman. "We were just so surprised."
"Kind of tears to the eyes, you know what I mean? It was really nice, and we were not expecting it," he continued.
Now, the diner and its board of directors are debating how to spend the money. Newman said there are some who think it should be spread out among the trainees. Others want to spend the money on a new cappuccino machine for the soon-to-open Cafe Ten, which will be open when the diner closes in the evening.
Newman does not blame the thieves.
"I think people that live with addiction, whether it be alcohol or drugs, are kind of forced into situations where they make the wrong choices," he said.
The diner employs about 15 trainees who suffer from a variety of mental illnesses.
- With files from Allanah Wills