WELLINGTON COUNTY – A pair of family-run restaurants are looking to say thanks to the communities that have welcomed them by giving back through a pay it forward program.
At Erni’s Place in Arthur or Super Snax in Belwood, those facing hard times can get a free meal, no questions asked Monday mornings 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. or anytime by using a receipt hanging on the wall already paid for by a previous customer.
“I want to help people,” said Amanpreet Gill, owner of both restaurants, in an interview at Erni’s. “I’m not that rich but what I can do, I try for my community.”
In Belwood —where the Super Snax is run by Amanpreet’s daughters Jashan, Gigi and Jasman — Gigi explained in an interview they were inspired by a post on social media about other restaurants doing a similar program.
“We have a lot of people that struggle to pay for meals and we thought it was a good idea to give back to the community in a way and do some good for some people who can’t really afford a meal,” Gigi said.
She elaborated about a regular customer in Arthur who couldn’t afford anything and was occasionally given free meals or snacks to help them out. Other customers noticed and began to ask to put it on their bill.
This and the social media post led to this pay it forward initiative where customers can buy anything they want for a future customer in need.
“You could buy them a dinner, you can buy them coffee, you can buy them a butter tart, slice of pie, anything,” Jashan said. “Whoever comes in and they’re like ‘hey I’m running short on funds,’ I’ll be like ‘hey go to that board, any receipt you like pull it off and bring it to me.’”
While there’s no way of knowing if the person is truly in need or not, Jashan doesn’t believe people are going to misuse the program as she trusts the community.
“The community has always been very upfront and honest about everything whenever they’ve come to us,” Jashan said.
If someone does take a free meal when they aren’t actually in need, Jashan and Gigi said that’s just the price of helping people in the community who have been very supportive of the family restaurants, first Erni’s when it opened over two years ago during the pandemic and for the past few months since the family took over ownership at Super Snax.
“They’re the reason we are even able to open this,” Jashan said. “Giving back to them that’s all that really matters.”
The idea of giving back is something Jashan said comes from her parents and Sikh culture. She said they’ve been taught that customers coming to their restaurant is like inviting someone into their home and you shouldn’t let people leave hungry.
“At the end of the day, helping somebody it’s like helping your own family member,” Jashan said. “My dad’s never thought ‘I don’t know this person, I don’t want to help.’ He’s always been the person that will stop on the road if you see somebody’s car pulled over and ask them if they’re okay.”
With the program starting, it has been slow to be taken up at Arthur with only a few meals paid for so far but the board is full in Belwood.
While this program has launched in the holiday season, it’s not exclusively for that time at this point.
“We have thoughts of continuing to do it and just keep it up and have it for summer time, winter time, any time because you never know when anybody is struggling,” Jashan said. “I know Christmas time is obviously harder but at the end of the day, every day is hard.”
