Waitress' giving inspires others

Crazy Otto's employees raise funds

So the waitress at Crazy Otto's Diner decided to give a day's worth of tips to the Red Cross relief fund instead.

Gillespie's small gesture mushroomed into a grand slam when her co-workers agreed to contribute their tips, too.

Sunday, waitresses and staff at the Acton diner were shocked and thrilled when they tallied the kitty, which totaled $3,151.50.

"Not only did they (customers) leave normal tips, they went beyond that," restaurant manager Donna Dymowski said. "The amount we raised kind of blew us away. We were just so overwhelmed with the response."

The waitresses were amazed at how much customers donated. Dymowski remembered one man who ordered a cup of coffee and wrote a check for $500.

"Several of the waitresses cried," Dymowski said. "We were hugging each other every time something more monumental happened."

Employees at the two other Crazy Otto's Diners in the Valley also will donate tips to the cause, and the waiters and waitresses are challenging other Antelope Valley restaurant employees to do the same.

The venture for Gillespie began Friday when Scott and Kim Tranter, the diner owners, backed her idea.

"Alexis said, `What about this?' I said, `Go for it,' and she did," Scott Tranter recalled.

"I realized I was depressed because I couldn't donate blood," Gillespie said. "I thought about this tip thing ... a little voice in my head told me it was a stupid idea, and I told that voice to shut up."

Gillespie began telling customers about her cause Saturday. Other servers made fliers and cards that said all tips they made would benefit the American Red Cross.

They also made T-shirts with pictures of the World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty and a bald eagle.

Servers working at Crazy Otto's Saturday and Sunday included Gillespie, Dymowski, Debbie Felan, Karen Alcantar and Mary Armbruster.

Tranter said employees at his Lancaster restaurants - at 1228 West Ave. I and 43528 20th St. West - will donate their tips again on Sunday, Sept. 23. He anticipates bringing in $10,000 from the two restaurants, and said he will match another $500 per restaurant.

The Tranters will also donate their tips on Sept. 23.

Employees said donating funds to the American Red Cross has helped them cope with last week's terrorist attacks.

"This is helping us come out of the shock of it," Dymowski said. "It's not just the money, it's how people responded to the need."

Uploaded September 18, 2001