Vinita Café Customers Pay It Forward With Meal Wall For Families In Need

Customers at a Vinita Café are buying free meals for families in need in the area. The café owner said people from across the country are donating to the Giving Wall, to help them do something good.

"We just want it to be a place where people come in like you would at your mom's house and order what you want," said Beth Hilburn with Hi-Way Café. "We serve a full menu all day long, so we serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at any time. We have people who order enchiladas at 7 in the morning because that is when they get off of their shift."

This cafe has become so much more than a spot for a great meal. The staff at Hi-Way Cafe started a Giving Wall, inspired by restaurants in Miami, Oklahoma.

"When someone comes through who needs a meal, they can select something," said Hilburn. "There are 25 or 30 tickets up there now and it never typically goes below that."

Families in need can come in and order just like any paying customer would, then the waitress will handle the rest. Most of the donated meals include a tip as well.

"I had a couple who came in who were kind of running short at the end of the month. They came in on three consecutive days and ate off of the wall, but then when the new month rolled around, they came back in and they actually donated meals to the wall," said Hilburn. "I just love this small town and the community that we have here."

To support the café, visit their Facebook page here.