A kind deli manager in Staten Island gives students money and free food when they bring him their report cards with good grades.
Most of us remember that one person who encouraged us in our small or big achievements. Maybe it was a parent, a teacher, or even the shopkeeper down the road. They didn’t say much, but their words stuck with us.
And looking back, we can see how those small gestures helped shape who we are today.
Wail Alselwi runs Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery. He started something beautiful called “Grades for Grabs.” Kids come to his store with their report cards, and he rewards them based on how well they did.
His TikTok videos of these sweet moments have touched millions of hearts.
How the Program Works
Here’s how it works. Students with grades 90% or higher get $100 cash, anything they want from the store, and a special T-shirt. Kids with 80% to 90% can pick whatever snacks they want. Those with 70% to 80% get $10 worth of treats. Even children who show improvement or have perfect attendance get something special.
One day, a fourth grader named Maleek came all the way from Pennsylvania with his family. Wail looked at his report card and called out the amazing grades: “96, 100, 100, 100, 97, 93, 99!” He handed Maleek a $100 bill and told him, “Listen, you deserve this. You did good in school.” The little boy picked bread, eggs, rice, and some snacks. Wail even gave him a sandwich.
Madison, a 17-year-old who dreams of playing professional basketball, brought her report card too. She had improved from 98% to 99% and finally hit 100%. “You know what happens, right?” Wail asked with a big smile before giving her the reward.
Where It All Started
This whole thing started in 2023. Wail wanted to help a neighborhood boy named Zamier Davies make the honor roll. He promised Zamier free items if he got good grades. It worked! Zamier went from struggling to making honor roll. He’s now in eighth grade and wants to work in tech.
Wail comes from Yemen. His three children still live there. “I got my own kids back home, and I miss them, so it makes me happy to see other kids happy,” he says. “I see my own kids in front of me.”
People love what Wail does. His brother started a GoFundMe to help pay for the program. It has raised almost $50,000. Even the Staten Island Borough President gave Wail certificates to honor his work.
“I like seeing the smile on their faces,” Wail says. “Man, it makes me happy.”
What touches me most is how Wail sees these children. He doesn’t just hand out rewards. He celebrates each child.
It may be our simple words or kind actions that stay in a child’s heart. That’s how God uses us to help others. Wail didn’t just give rewards. He showed these kids that their hard work matters.
When we see someone doing their best, big or small, let’s encourage them. A kind word can go a long way.
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