A CAFÉ is encouraging Islanders to gift food or drink to a person in need through a “pay it forward” scheme.
Cheyenne O’Connor of the Butterfly Café, which opened its doors to Islanders last year, said around 50 people had contributed to the initiative in the last week alone.
The scheme enables someone to buy something on the menu and “pay it forward”, with the receipt printed and kept in an accessible area where someone in need can pick it up and receive the food or drink for free.
Customers can pay forward for anything from a cup of tea to the entire menu, or pay forward money so that someone can choose their own meal.
Ms O’Connor explained that the café had actually been running the scheme for a few months, but had recently decided to “get the word out” after introducing a new menu.
“People have just been walking in and saying they want to pay forward a meal, saying that it is a really good idea – obviously a lot of people struggle,” she continued.
“This is aimed at anyone who falls on hard times and needs the help.”
She also said that the scheme utilised a “no questions asked” policy, to help ensure that the receipts for free meals or drinks were readily available to those in need. “If someone is coming in and they are putting themselves in that position to get a meal, there is a reason behind that and so we wouldn’t question why they are doing that,” she added.
Meanwhile, the JEP has relaunched its Jersey Together community campaign, to help support Islanders in need and combat loneliness amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Charities and business are being encouraged to contact the paper to highlight the support and advice available now for anyone struggling with any personal difficulty – financial or otherwise.
Ms O’Connor said: “We see a lot of people commenting about food banks or where they can get extra help when they have just lost their job or they are working but still don’t have enough money to feed their children.
“It’s important that other businesses look at getting involved as well, because we are only one café, so we can’t help the whole Island.”
Any individual or business who would like to help out with the campaign can contact the JEP by phoning 611692 or emailing together@jerseyeveningpost.com
