Thurgoona's Panda Kitchen introduces generous pay it forward plan

Panda's Kitchen at the Thurgoona Plaza introduced a 'pay it forward' scheme at the cafe.

Customers can choose to buy a coffee, snack or meal for a future customer when they make their purchase and write a colourful note of positivity to leave for the next person to read.

Shop manager Susan Hayes said the idea came from a colleague at a neighbouring shop, but her team of young staff were instrumental in setting up the initiative.

"I've run it through all the girls and said what do you think of this? do you think we should do it here? and everyone agreed," she said.

"It was a hit straight up, as soon as we started it."

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Ms Hayes said the idea has created a cycle of generosity with customers.

"Pretty much every single person who gets the free coffee pays it forward for the next one.

"It's really good," she said.

"I think from everything that we've been going through with COVID, just a little bit of kindness and positivity goes a long way."

Ms Hayes said there had been some customers who'd come in over the last few months who had appeared to be in financial hardship.

"You can tell with that sort of stuff," she said.

"I even notice with some of the people who come in, one of the kids might not be eating.

"They've all ordered food and I'm like I'll shout you an egg and bacon roll, because they're just sitting there and I cant have them sitting there."

Cafe owner Dean West was proud of his staff.

"They're caring and happy," he said.

"I think with business these days people are too cranky and stressed and with COVID I've had to ban a couple of people from coming in, because they were so rude and nasty."

But Mr West said this hadn't impacted his staff's generosity.

"They're always thinking about other people and being kind," he said.

Ms Hayes agreed.

"We've got some amazing workers here," she said.

"We're very blessed.

"I try and teach them that you have to be focused on the customer, that you can read them.

"You don't know what anyone else is going through when they're walking in, especially these days."

Ms Hayes said the cafe was creating a sense of community.

"They take that away and they tell people, so it's contagious," she said.

Ms Hayes said she'd like to see similar initiatives more around town.

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