SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Maria’s Mexican Restaurant and Tahoe Bros Charbroiled Burgers are both participating in the Pay It Forward program, a program that Jose Perez of South Lake Tahoe Mutual Aid helped start. The program lets customers pay for a meal ticket that’s equal to the cost of the meal, so anyone who needs one can pick one up and get it for free.
Perez said that he originally wanted to come up with a program that would help those in need and encourage people to support local businesses. Through the South Lake Tahoe Mutual Aid group, they came up with guidelines and a system for Pay It Forward, modeled after other similar programs in other towns.
South Lake Tahoe Mutual Aid defines mutual aid as a form of solidarity-based support where community members come together to meet each other’s needs. “It’s about neighbors helping neighbors, creating networks of care and support that strengthen our community. Mutual aid is built on principles of cooperation, reciprocity, and collective care. It recognizes that we all have something to contribute and that we all may need support at different times in our lives, and it’s a reciprocal system where everyone can both give and receive support.”
Around the holiday season last year, Perez went to Maria’s and Tahoe Bros, who both enthusiastically accepted the program. Oscar Villagrana, manager at Maria’s, said, “We originally accepted it because the holidays is a time where people want to give and there are definitely people in need… then we decided to keep it around.”
At no cost to the business, the program works on the honor system, and tickets can be redeemed by anyone. When someone is buying their own meal, they can opt in to Pay It Forward and provide a ticket for the program. And if someone needs a meal, tickets are up near the front, for easy redemption. “Whoever’s in need of a meal can easily get one,” said Villagrana.
Andres Delgadillo, owner of Tahoe Bros, said, “I’m sure some people take advantage of it, but there are a lot of people who really appreciate it, and it’s overall a good program.”
Both Delgadillo and Villagrana say there was little impact to the day-to-day operations for the restaurant, and that the program was overwhelmingly positive. “We’ve done about 150 meals since the program started,” said Delgadillo. “I think everyone should participate in a program like this because it doesn’t impact our income, and when the time comes where you might need a meal, you can get it.”
“It would be awesome to have others participate so there are more food options,” said Villagrana. “Money right now is a big issue for a lot of people. And honestly, this kind of program isn’t fro the business, it’s for the community.”
Perez feels the same. “A program like this shows how we can help one another, giving back to our community and being able to also get something if it’s needed. I would really like to see a program like this expand, to get more businesses involved in Pay It Forward.”
Inquiries about Pay It Forward can be sent to South Lake Tahoe Mutual Aid’s email at slt-mutualaid@proton.me
