The day began like any other for Cruz, until she encountered Mirza Kudic, the creator of the popular Facebook page “Welcome to Des Moines.” Kudic, seated in her section on Thursday morning, handed her a tip that far surpassed the usual: a staggering $2,400.

Out of this sum, Kudic allocated $400 to be shared among the cooks in the kitchen, leaving Cruz with an astonishing $2,000 for herself. “I was just in shock,” Cruz recounted, adding, “I went to the back and I was crying. It’s very generous.”

Kudic later revealed the tip was a collective effort, not solely from him. With over 80,000 followers on his Facebook page, he had reached out to the community, encouraging them to contribute and spread some holiday cheer to a deserving server.

Shortly after handing her the money, Kudic explained it wasn’t just from his pocket, but from several others. With over 80,000 followers on his Facebook page, he asked the community to pitch in and help a server this holiday season. 

“I don’t think anyone goes to a server job on Thanksgiving because they are just so happy to be there and they don’t want to be anywhere else but their job serving hundreds of people,” Kudic said.

Restaurant workers are among those who often work on holidays, including Cruz, who has worked them for 21 years.

“We’re open Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day,” she said. 

Kudic began his account to showcase his photography, but as the page grew larger, he knew he had a bigger mission in store.

“There’s been all these moms especially that need stuff, and they will message me that ‘I need diapers, I need formula, I need this,’” he said. “I’ll take a screenshot of that message, and I will put it on there, and within 10 minutes, a bunch of ladies get together and they just take care of her.”

When he asked his followers to pay it forward to wait staff this time around, they responded again in that same way. Now, with a $2,000 tip, Cruz is paying it forward even further.

“I am going to go buy my baby some Christmas presents,” she said. “I’m going to take my 6-year-old and my 14-year-old out tonight around the south side and have them hand out a care package with a little bit of money in there for some homeless people.”