THE 73-year-old man told the restaurant staff that they were 'crazy' to offer free lunches.
He then sat down at a table and helped himself to the buffet lunch, which normally would cost $16.
Would he be yet another freeloader?
But, after the meal, he dropped $50 into the donation box - to the surprise of the staff.
Alas, this man was among the very few who donated generously during the restaurant's five-day charity drive, which started last Monday.
The New Paper reported last week that Geek Terminal restaurant at Raffles Place was providing free buffet lunches. Diners could pay as much - or as little - as they liked, with the money going to charity,
Many freeloaders turned up, with some giving only $2 for the buffet lunch of more than 10 dishes.
One of the restaurant's owners, Mr Danny Pang, 38, said the generous man had gone there with his secretary last Friday.
Said Mr Pang: 'The 'uncle' was walking with the help of a walking stick. He waved a copy of The New Paper, pointed to the report and told us that we were crazy.'
He later spoke to the man - who was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts - and learnt that he is in the architectural industry.
'Before he left, he jokingly told us, 'Don't worry, I will not give $2'. He then put a $50 note into the donation box. That was very heartwarming and encouraging,' said Mr Pang.
It is estimated that they served about 500 customers in the five days, and the buffet charity lunch raised about $4,900. He did not want to say how much the food had cost him.
That works out to about $10 per person. On a normal day, the daily takings are about $4,000.
The restaurant also held daily auctions of sponsored electronic products, which brought in $8,000.
Mr Pang said the restaurant raised about $13,000 in total. All the proceeds will go to the charity organisation Mainly I Love Kids (Milk), which helps disadvantaged children and youths.
NOT DISAPPOINTED
Mr Pang had wanted to raise $100,000. But he was not disappointed to fall so short.
He said: 'This was all in the name of a good cause, and no amount is too little for charity.'
That was why the staff did not go after those who did not donate.
And though the charity drive showed the ugly side of some Singaporeans, he plans to hold a 'free lunch' charity drive every year.
As with this year, he does not plan to impose a minimum sum on diners.
He said: 'Having this charity drive is our way of contributing to society. As for those who came and did not give much, their presence still meant a lot to us.'
Growing up in a poor family, Mr Pang said he had seen for himself how frugal his parents were as they struggled to make ends meet.
His father was a construction worker and the family of four depended on his monthly pay of $60 in the '70s.
And rather than donate the restaurant's daily takings to the charity, he decided to hold a 'free lunch' so that anyone - rich or poor - could have a meal there.
Although the charity lunches are over, the electronics auction will continue online till 20 Dec.
Visit www.geekterminal.com if you want to participate in the live auction.
This article was first published in The New Paper on 11 Dec 2007.
