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- Owner of a small convenience store gives kids free food for getting good grades ‘I like seeing the smile on their faces’
Owner of a small convenience store gives kids free food for getting good grades ‘I like seeing the smile on their faces’
Co-Owner of Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery in Staten Island, New York: Wail Alselwi gives away free food to kids with good grades because he likes to see the smiles on their face!
Ryan Beck
May 15, 2025
Eighth Grade Student receives free food because of his good grades Courtesy Wail Alselwi
A New York City bodega owner, Wail Alselwi, known as "Island Ock," rewards local students for good grades with free food and even cash. Alselwi, the co-owner of Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery in Staten Island, started the initiative in 2023 to motivate a young neighbor.
Students who show report cards with averages of 80-90% can pick anything from the store, while those with 70-80% get $10 worth of items. Kids showing improvement or perfect attendance also receive treats. For a 90% average or higher, Alselwi gives the student their choice of snacks, $100, and a T-shirt.