Students, needy get a boost at Cast & Grind

Post-it notes all those down on their luck to grab a free brew. (Lebanon Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - Cast and Grind restaurant owner Eric Adema is trying to encourage young people to do better in school by giving them and their families a break on their food tab.

If a student from Rochester Middle School or Spaulding High come in with a report card that averages an "A" grade the whole family can come in and get 50 percent of their bill.

If they come in with a "B" report card they get 40 percent off.

Even a "C" average will get the whole family 25 percent off their bill.

So far several students and their families have taken advantage of the offer, which Adema introduced at the start of this school year.

In addition, Adema has started an "exemplary" student award, which teachers and administrators can distribute which any student, no matter their grades, can qualify for.

"Every school in Rochester has a form," Adema said. "If they see a student doing something noteworthy, they can give it to them."

The citation for doing good is worth a free cup of coffee for high school students or an ice cream sundae to younger students.

Adema also recently instituted "coffee pending" for grownups who might be down on their luck.

Dozens of post-it notes that say "1 free coffee" are affixed to the front window of his North Main Street eatery. If anyone doesn't have the money for coffee they can grab a "post-it" and enjoy a cup of joe.

Likewise, Adema urges customers to leave $2 if they'd like to "pay if forward."

"We're just trying to create random acts of kindness that can change Rochester," Adema said on Friday.