PATERSON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- A group of friends gathered at an IHOP restaurant on Saturday in order to spread some holiday cheer with a generous tip.
Zellie Thomas and his friends left a $1,200 cash tip for a waitress at the restaurant in Paterson, Thomas tells NJ Advance Media.
Each friend, Thomas explains, brought $100 to the restaurant, and after covering the cost of the food that they ordered, the group of 11, was able to leave the waitress the $1,200 cash tip.
"Today, I was apart of something that I hope becomes an annual holiday tradition," Thomas tweeted.
The waitress, was shocked at first, and tried to return the money.
"When she got the money, she was looking at it like, ‘Oh, you guys gave me too much money ... Here’s it back,'" according to the report. "And we were like, 'No, that’s yours.'"Thomas, is a teacher in New Jersey, hopes this gesture inspires others to do something kind for a stranger."I really hope this shows people that there’s power in community and all it takes is a group of friends to come together and change someone else’s life," Thomas said. "You’d be really surprised, if you put that call out to your friends, how many people would be supportive of that idea."