Restaurant Can Feed Homeless But Not Itself, Restaurant Whose Kind Gesture Went Viral Is Now In Trouble
The owner of a sandwich shop in Oklahoma City made headlines earlier this year when she fed an anonymous person who was eating out of her dumpster, but now her restaurant is in serious financial trouble.
Ashley Jiron, owner of P.B. Jams, may be forced to close her doors for good if her financial situation doesn’t improve, so she reached out to social media for a little help of her own.
Her Facebook page describes her dire situation.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce P.B. Jams’ permanent closing after the holidays.”
When Jiron saw a someone digging through her trash for food earlier this year she could have ignored it, but instead she was moved to offer them a free meal in her restaurant.
“To the person going through our trash for their next meal, You’re a human being and worth more than a meal from a dumpster. Please come in during operating hours for a classic Pb&j, fresh veggies, and a cup of water at no charge. No questions asked. – Your friend, the owner”
Jiron’s reaction to the dumpster diver went viral and sparked a wave of comments praising her actions.
Then she went even farther and started the #ShareTheNuts campaign that allows customers to prepay for meals for the hungry. At the end of the month, she donates any leftover money to local charities.
Posted in the window of PB Jams restaurant in OK. #faithinhumanity pic.twitter.com/6BCHYdHFbY
— Karyn Toso (@karyntoso) July 26, 2015
Now, she needs some help of her own.
“So, this time, it is ME who needs you. Running a business has proven to be a lot more difficult than what I had ever imagined. But I am NOT ready to give up! I will keep fighting — all I need is you.”
P.B. Jams has suffered all sorts of financial crisis’s from lack of electricity to roofing problems, but owner Ashley still maintained her commitment to the community and kept up her #ShareTheNuts campaign.
The money raised has gone to pay for meals along with school supplies for local students.
Ashley has started her own GoFundMe campaign in an attempt to raise $5,000 to keep her doors open and allow her to keep feeding her community.
So far she’s raised just over $4,000 from good Samaritans, some of whom have never even been to her restaurant.
“I wasn’t sure if I should do this because I am just grateful that you all are so supportive of my efforts. But with much encouragement, I thought I’d give it a shot. So, this time, it is ME who needs you.”
[Photo by P.B. Jams / Facebook]
