Staffers at a restaurant in Ohio just got a Christmas gift that they will never forget in the form of a massive tip from a customer.

The guest, who wishes to remain anonymous, was eating at the Souk Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar in Toledo last week when he left a tip of $5,600 for staffers at the restaurant to split.

“This really happened,” owner Moussa Salloukh wrote on Facebook. “Last night one of our guests left a $5,600 tip to be given to all of our staff, whether they were working that shift or not. It meant each of our 28 staff members received a $200 tip. What an amazing gesture of kindness to my employees.

”

Salloukh went on to talk about how much more this tip meant to his staffers, given how difficult this year has been for them amidst COVID-19.

“This is not an ordinary December,” he explained. “Normally this is a month when our employees work extra and guests tip generously. December is a month for them to earn money to buy family gifts, put a bit into savings and take care of bills or repairs that have been lingering. With Covid restrictions and guidelines, that was not going to happen for them this year. So this heartfelt generosity was deeply needed and very appreciated.

”

“The words ‘Thank You’ seem inadequate for this gift… but Thank You Billy, for your generous spirit and for making a difference in the lives of people I care a lot about this holiday season,” Salloukh concluded.

He wrote this post below a quote that read, “Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people.”

Salloukh later told CNN that he opened his restaurant in October of 2019, and that it has been a major struggle to keep it open during the coronavirus pandemic.

“There was a lot of tears, I’m tearing up now talking about it,” Salloukh told CNN of when staffers saw the tip. “Your restaurant staff becomes your family and everyone cares about each other. I’ve been staying out of the kitchen to give employees hours to get through and put gifts under the tree for their kids, so this was so huge for us.”

It’s been a difficult year for all of us in truly unprecedented ways, so the next time you have the opportunity to do something kind for someone, you should be sure to do it. You never know when even the smallest act of kindness can change someone’s life forever!