Family Leaves 'Life-Changing' Tip For Colorado Springs Restaurant Staff

A family left a much-appreciated surprise for the five staff members at the Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs recently.

The group had breakfast at the resort's Barnwood restaurant. When they went to pay the $55 bill, the family left a $5,000 tip.

"As they were leaving, I spoke to them and just said that their amazing generosity will never be forgotten," food and beverage director, Monique West told KKTV. "It is literally life-changing to some of the staff that is working in the morning."

The $5,000 tip was spilt between three servers, a host, and a busser.

"This literally was going to allow them to be able to pay their taxes," said West. "Others are struggling with bills as well, and so the money is definitely going to go to really good use and meaningful way for the families of the staff."

"Some of them started to cry, they just couldn't believe that this was happening," she continued. "These are things that you hear but not experience, and that's what they had said, 'Unbelievable.'"

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it a devasting year for those in the restaurant industry.

"We talked about how our job is to continue to bring joy to families and to make people happy through service," said West. "Not everyone can give such large amounts of money, but at the end of the day, if you do your best and give great service, you can be one of the lucky ones that gets to have a big tip."

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