The openly gay restaurant server who caught national attention after a customer left her an apparently anti-gay note instead of a tip has been receiving tips from customers and strangers for days – and plans to donate them to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Dayna Morales, an ex-Marine and server at Gallop Asian Bistro in NJ, was handed a restaurant check with an apparently anti-gay message scrawled in the margin. She said she has been “overwhelmed” by the show of support” she’s received since the incident last week.
Morales said that on Wednesday, she served the customer her entire meal without incident, but when Morales picked up the bill, she saw the tip amount space crossed out and the words “I’m sorry but I cannot tip because I do not agree with your lifestyle and how you live your life” written by hand in the margin of the check.
Morales said the support from customers and even non-customers dropping by to donate the amount of the tip for the original check has already topped $2,000 and is still coming in. The money will go to the Wounded Warrior project, which helps severely injured veterans. Morales’ employer has decided to match every donation to the cause.
Several other customers came by to drop off donations for Morales and the Wounded Warrior Project through the evening.
Morales said if the family ever returned to the restaurant, she would still serve them no differently than any other customer.
Donations to Morales for the Wounded Warrior Project may be made in person or by mail to Gallop Asian Bistro, 793 Route 202, Branchburg, N.J. 08876
Posted by Lauren Harrity 11/27/13
