By Mal Butler
A café is offering a scheme where generous customers ‘Pay it Forward’ to donate meals and drinks to others in difficulty or need.
Mike and Cath Dasent, who own Cath and Mike’s, School Green Road, Freshwater, started the scheme in the run-up to Christmas to enable the less well off to enjoy their Christmas Day at the café.
Mike said: “People started donating just before Christmas and it has taken off from there. In the end we had too much money for Christmas Day, because we were fully booked. So people asked us to put it towards meals and drinks in the New Year.
“We still had £300 left over, so we donated that to Daisy Chains IW, which supports Island children with a disability of long-term health conditions.
“But our customers have continued to support the scheme. They pay for coffees, breakfasts or roast dinners, which are put up on our board, and people who might be feeling overwhelmed, having a tough day or struggling financially, can have a treat.
“One of our customers has even put £200 towards the scheme, but it’s up to our discretion who benefits; we don’t want people taking advantage. However, we know most of the people around here and who needs it most.
“It’s been heart-warming to have this level of support from our local community for our local community.”
Isle of Wight Observer