It’s the season to give—and for one lucky waitress at a Waffle House in Alabama, it’s also the season to receive.
When Tanya Ragsdale of Cullman, Alabama, and her friends randomly sat down for their annual Friendsgiving party — this year at Waffle House — their server, Julia, had no idea what surprise her new table was in store.
Each of the 12 women brought $100 to the meal to leave as a tip for the server in the spirit of the gifting season, which brought Julia to tears after receiving a $1,125.25 tip on a total bill of $74 .75.
Ragsdale said the waitress told the women she has a 1-year-old at home whose birthday is also just around the corner, and that coupled with the approach of Christmas has made this time of year difficult.
“When I tell you I have the best friends ever, it’s just one of a million things they do to prove it,” Ragsdale wrote in tribute to her friends who contributed. “Thank you to my girlfriends. I love you and cherish you all.”
Hundreds flooded the comment section of her Facebook post praising the women’s efforts and being in the spirit of giving.
“Just out there to make the world a better place,” one user wrote. “I like to hear things like this.”
“Thank you all for thinking out of the box and spreading the giving vibe,” said another.
Many residents also wrote on Julia’s behalf saying she is a “sweetheart”, which also appealed to Ragsdale after she said an elderly customer at the store told her that “this couldn’t have happened to a better or more deserving person”.
At Ragsdale’s Friendsgiving themed meal last year, her group donated $575.01 to a waitress at Cracker Barrel when their bill was $24.99.
