The Collins family came to Stinky & Coco's Diner and gave a $500 tip to an unsuspecting waitress. Standing from left to right are, Gerney Collins, Tina Collins, Seth Collins, Hannah Walker, the waitress who received the tip, and Don Parsons, owner of Stinky & Coco's Diner.
Seth Collins and his family visited Winchester on Wednesday and surprised a young waitress with a rather generous tip.
After Seth’s brother, Aaron Collins, passed away last July, the family found in Aaron’s will that he wanted them to give a waiter or a waitress an exceptional tip. Seth and his parents, Gerney and Tina Collins, of Lexington, raised the money and fulfilled the wish by giving $500 to a waitress at a pizza place. The waitress was absolutely astonished.
Seth posted the video to YouTube and it went viral. Donations began pouring in to the Collins family.
“The goal was to do it one time,” Seth said. “But people wanted us to keep doing it.”
Seth has been on radio interviews in places like Poland and Australia, and has received donations from all over the world. They have now raised $65,000 to put towards Aaron’s Last Wish.
As of Wednesday, the Collins family has given their 37th tip of $500 to an unsuspecting waiter or waitress.
Hannah Walker, a waitress at Stinky & Coco’s Diner in downtown Winchester, waited on the Collins family for lunch and was the recipient of a $500 tip.
“I was completely shocked,” Walker said. “I didn’t know how to react.”
Walker put the cash into the restaurant’s tip jar.
Don Parsons, the owner of Stinky & Coco’s, was in the back of the restaurant when the Collins family gave Walker the tip.
“I didn’t know what was going on,” Parson said. “But it was very nice of her (to put the money in the tip jar.) I’d like to think we’d all do the same. It’s a small staff here, so we’re all close.”
Seth had put a poll on the Aaron’s Last Wish Facebook page for people to vote on where they would eat lunch that day. Out of Frankfort, Winchester, Paris and Georgetown, Winchester had the most votes.
The Collins family has traveled from Texas to Florida to Ohio to give tips at various restaurants.
“We’re fundraising to pay for a 50-state road trip to give away tips,” Seth said. “We hope to leave in June around Aaron’s birthday.”
Seth said it’s a moment of relief to give away the money after holding it through the meal.
“It’s fulfilling, heartwarming. It’s an overwhelming joy,” he said.
Tina said Aaron was always very generous with his money and worked for Habitat for Humanity.
Seth also said that Aaron tipped a waitress $50 at a Buffalo Wild Wings after she had a rough night. She confided in them that she wasn’t sure she was cut out for the job. Aaron had left the tip and a note saying, “Don’t give up.”
“It’s not something you ever expect—to lose your little brother,” Seth said.
Though the Collins family has faced a great struggle, with the help of generous donations, they are able to continue to fulfill Aaron’s Last Wish and make a difference in the lives of hard working people across the nation.
Contact Kendall Sparks at ksparks@winchestersun.com
