My sister-in-law recently told me about a Panera restaurant that allows customers to pay their “fair-share” for their meals.

A sign at the entrance says: “Take what you need, leave your fair share.” Customers who can’t pay are asked to donate their time. The cafe opened Sunday and will operate seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

While the store does have cashiers, they don’t collect money. They simply hand each customer a receipt that says what their food would cost at a conventional Panera. The receipt directs customers with cash to donation boxes (there are five in the store). Cashiers do accept credit cards.

(Sorry about the ad before the video, I couldn’t figure out a way to get the video without the ad)

When she mentioned this to me my first thought was that who would pay full price if they didn’t have to? Maybe I don’t have enough hope in humanity anymore, but I wonder if this idea will really work. There are people who take lemons and packs of sweetener to make their own “lemonade” at restaurants in order to save a dollar or two on a drink. Are these same people going to pay what they can really afford at a place like this?

I really like the idea that those who can’t pay can work for food, and that this place might become a training place for at risk youth. This whole thing seems like a great idea, if it works. It kind of reminds me of the end of Acts 4 in the bible, where people sold what they had and distributed it to the poor.

Upon further thought, what I really like about this idea is that how much you give is your own choice. No one is forcing the the people with more money to give more and no one forces the people with less money to get it for free (or even get paid to eat there- do you see where I am going with this…)

I don’t know, but this article has definitely got me thinking this week about the money, giving, work, and a whole lot of other things…

This post is linked to Frugal Friday.

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