This Deli Owner Is Handing Out Cash And Groceries To Students Who Get Good Grades
For the past two years, Wail “Wally” Alselwi, the owner of Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery in Staten Island, New York, has given free food to kids with good grades.
Affectionately known online as “Island Ock,” Alselwi celebrates local students who bring in strong report cards with free food, cash, and other rewards. Those averaging over 90% get a $100 cash bonus, an “Island Ock” T-shirt, and the freedom to grab whatever they want from the store. Kids scoring between 80% and 90% are invited to pick free snacks, while moderate achievers, students with perfect attendance, or those who show dramatic improvement are also recognized with smaller prizes.
The idea traces back to a bet with a boy named Zamir, who promised that if he made the honor roll, he’d get unlimited Doritos. Months later, Zamir returned with proof—and Alselwi honored the deal. He filmed the moment, posted it on TikTok, and the story quickly went viral.
Now, every day, kids show up to Zack’s Deli with their report cards in hand, excited to claim their reward and bask in Alselwi’s encouragement. He documents each wholesome moment on TikTok and Instagram, where the clips have earned millions of views.
To sustain the program, Alselwi sells merch and set up a GoFundMe, which has already raised $265,713 toward a $290,000 goal. He says the most requested items aren’t candy or chips, but staples like eggs, bread, and milk.
For Alselwi, the mission is bigger than snacks: “All kids are very smart,” he told ABC News. “They just need someone to believe in them.”
