SAN ANTONIO – You might call it a “Friendsgiving” of a different kind.
By definition, that practice involves a group of friends, often without any family living nearby, gathering for a Thanksgiving meal and spending the holiday together.
In this case, there was food involved, but the group who gathered recently at Windcrest’s Mamma Lou’s Soul Food Kitchen also had the goal of spreading Christmas cheer.
“We’re having lunch and dinners at a few restaurants around town, preferably small businesses,” said Stephanie Gray, explaining what she and her friends had been doing in the weeks leading up to Christmas. “We’re excited.”
“Yep. To be a blessing is a blessing,” added Tonya Wilson, who was also part of the gathering.
The “blessing,” which they bestowed upon restaurant servers throughout the San Antonio area, was a monetary surprise.
After dining on a menu that included smothered pork chops, sweet potato casserole, collard greens, and other delights, each of the six members of the group pulled out a $100 bill and handed it to their waitress.
“I want to give you this tip of $100,” they each said in succession.
Desirae Fannin, who was on the receiving end of the generosity, looked at the money being handed to her, then burst into tears.
“It was like a prayer answered,” Fannin said later. “It was as if someone was in my home with me when I pray my prayers.”
The mother of two said she and her family had been going through a rough patch lately. She was worrying how she’d be able to make Christmas special for her children while also keeping her head above water financially.
“They have some Christmas presents, but the fact that I have that stress off my back from a couple of bills,” Fannin said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Gray said she and various friends had the goal of spreading that type of holiday green at five different restaurants during the Christmas season. She said she got the idea from a video she saw on social media.
“Last year was our first year doing it, and we were only able to do two restaurants,” Gray said. “Everybody so far has literally been, like, so grateful, and they have said how much they’ve needed it.”
The gratitude, apparently, is contagious. Gray said the tears from the people to whom they’ve given the money often start a domino effect, causing everyone to cry.
“It’s giving me chills now,” she said, rubbing her arms. “Just the fact that you know you’re truly being a blessing to somebody, it’s so gratifying.”
While this season of their super-sized tip-giving has come to an end, Gray said she and her friends are already planning for next year.
“Do it again,” she said, “bigger and better.”
