A few weeks ago in Tennessee, a Red Lobster waitress went against company policy. She posted a customer’s receipt that had a racist epithet on the tip line instead of an amount.
Toni Jenkins, 19, a college student, revealed she posted the receipt to show racism still exists in 2013. “I was just stunned that it happened,” Jenkins said. “It’s not something that you think in our generation would actually take place, so I was just blown away by it.”
Well, Jenkins recently received a very pleasant surprise from a complete stranger who started a Facebook page, “Tips for Toni,” in her honor. A California man, Matthew Hanson, founder of AddictingInfo.org, heard Jenkins’ story and started an online fundraiser that collected $10,749 in 72 hours.
Hanson presented the check on September 30 to Jenkins, who was unaware of the fundraiser.
“I literally screamed. I was so confused,” Jenkins said. “I was just so thankful. I felt so blessed and so honored that so many people came together on my behalf to give this to me.”
Jenkins was also suspended from Red Lobster after the incident due to violating the company’s policy of posting receipts online. She has since been allowed to return to work.
The rude and disrespectful receipt left for Jenkins wasn’t the first to make headlines. Click here to see other receipts that caught media attention.
