• Sign Up
    • Yearly by Check
    • Monthly Recurring
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Account
  • Log In
The Hendersonian
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Business
    • Local
    • Police
    • Politics
    • Schools
    • Science
    • Sports
    • State
    • World

    Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

    Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Trending Tags

  • Tech
    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think

    Trending Tags

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Sports
    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Henderson joins West Kentucky Film Commission with hopes of luring movie makers here

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    Grants available from Deaconess Henderson Hospital Community Program Fund

    Hospital CAO: Deaconess Henderson will not close

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    Trending Tags

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Business
    • Local
    • Police
    • Politics
    • Schools
    • Science
    • Sports
    • State
    • World

    Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

    Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Trending Tags

  • Tech
    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think

    Trending Tags

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Sports
    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Henderson joins West Kentucky Film Commission with hopes of luring movie makers here

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    Grants available from Deaconess Henderson Hospital Community Program Fund

    Hospital CAO: Deaconess Henderson will not close

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    Trending Tags

No Result
View All Result
The Hendersonian
No Result
View All Result
Home News Local

ChefWhat owner Bennett and restaurant patrons pay it forward for those in need

Vince Tweddell by Vince Tweddell
July 30, 2024
in Local, News
0
ChefWhat owner Bennett and restaurant patrons pay it forward for those in need

ChefWhat owner Josh Bennett put up a "Pay It Forward" wall so that people who are hungry can come to his restaurant and use a pre-paid ticket for a meal. (Hendersonian Photo/Vince Tweddell)

0
SHARES
733
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

On the morning of Saturday, July 20, Josh Bennett, the owner of ChefWhat, posted on social media that he had just started a “Pay It Forward” wall in which customers can prepay for a meal that someone less fortunate can get later.

He began hanging the prepaid “Guest Check” tickets on a board his wife, Amy, had brought in that morning with the hope that people in need would come in to his restaurant when they’re hungry, take a ticket off the wall, and get a hot meal, no questions asked.

Even before the first day of his new project was over, the community response was already “overwhelming,” Bennett said.

“Within hours we had enough donations to fill the board,” he said.

By the third day—on Wednesday because ChefWhat is closed Sunday and Monday—enough people had paid it forward for two boards to be filled with tickets, he said.

On Saturday, one person got a free meal; on Tuesday, two people; and Wednesday, two people, Bennett said.

“They’re so grateful,” Bennett said. “You can see tears in their eyes.”

Bennett said some time ago he’d seen a video of a restaurant in a different town doing this, and it stuck with him. He didn’t immediately implement the “Pay It Forward” wall, though.

A little later he was having a conversation with his wife about starting the program, and 30 minutes after they talked, a man called asking for help.

“He didn’t have any money and he wouldn’t be able to feed his kids on that weekend,” Bennett said. Amy told him it was a sign.

A month or so later—July 20—she came to the restaurant with the board, and they hung it on the wall, thus starting “Pay It Forward” at ChefWhat.   

Bennett believes, and even hopes, his initiative has some ripple effects, for what he’s doing at his restaurant and maybe other restaurants in Henderson. He said he’s not aware of any other local eateries currently offering this, but he thinks it could catch on.

Bennett also can see that this small service currently done in-house could expand to some sort of delivery, especially if volunteers, say retirees, would like to drive meals to people. It makes sense, he said.

“If they don’t have money to eat, a lot of people won’t have money for transportation, either,” he said.

When he started ChefWhat several years ago, Bennett was taken aback by some of the firsthand knowledge he gained as a restaurant owner. First, he didn’t realize the amount of homelessness in Henderson, and second, he didn’t truly realize just how many people are struggling in the community, he said.

He witnesses these conditions through those who come into his restaurant and the calls he receives, he said.

“It’s more than I ever imagined,” he said.

Bennett said those who want to use the Pay It Forward wall will probably have the best luck during his lunch hours of 10 a.m.-1 p.m. He said most days he sells out at lunch and doesn’t open for supper hours. ChefWhat is open Tuesday through Saturday. It is located at 422 Seventh St.

Bennett said he’s not worried about being taken advantage of, as in people who don’t need the food taking a ticket.

“It’s not my job to judge,” he said. “That’s between them and God.”

Bennett said he’s always tried to help when people called needing food. But with the “Pay It Forward” wall, he believes the restaurant will be able to provide more assistance. He said he’s blessed and happy to have the platform to help.

“I hope we can help more people now than what we had been doing,” he said.

Previous Post

PAID ADVERTISEMENT: Celebrating at the end of life is important

Next Post

Newman is awarded Rotary’s ‘Hometown Hero’

Vince Tweddell

Vince Tweddell

Vince Tweddell is the founder, publisher and editor of the Hendersonian.

Next Post
Newman is awarded Rotary’s ‘Hometown Hero’

Newman is awarded Rotary's 'Hometown Hero'

Recent News

Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

June 21, 2025

Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

June 21, 2025
Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

June 21, 2025
Henderson civic, industry leader Joel Hopper dies

Henderson civic, industry leader Joel Hopper dies

June 21, 2025
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Account
  • Log In

© 2025 The Hendersonian • Henderson, KY 42420

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Login

© 2025 The Hendersonian • Henderson, KY 42420