Donnie Wahlberg tips a food server in his native Massachusetts at $ 2,020 … and ‘his jaw dropped’

Donnie Wahlberg helped brighten up a food server’s year by tipping him $ 2,020 after his check was $ 35.27.

The 51-year-old Blue Bloods actor this week made the generous gesture to his waiter, Denise Andrews, at Marshland, a restaurant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, while participating in a social media game called # 2020TipChallenge.

The restaurant touted the New Kids on the Block alum’s magnanimous gesture with a social media post.

Generous: Donnie Wahlberg, 51, helped brighten up a food server’s year by tipping him $ 2,020 after his check was $ 35.27. He was pictured in New York last month

“A very special thank you to our friend @donniewahlberg! Asked about it, all he said was “who’s next ?!”, the establishment replied.

Restaurant owner Marty Finch, 56, told People that Wahlberg, who plays Detective Danny Reagan on the CBS police show, “ has been here in the past and he always asks for ‘Andrews as a waiter, because she knows her standing order. – steak ends with grilled asparagus and poached eggs.

Finch said Wahlberg played down the gesture as he left the facility.

‘When he left, he just said, “Denise, you’re ready. Payment is on the table,” Finch said at the point of sale. “, when she saw this amount of tip.

The good stuff: Restaurant touted New Kids on the Block alum’s magnanimous gesture with a social media post

Kind message: The Blue Bloods star encouraged her social media followers to spread the love

Good habit: The host also left a huge tip for a waiter on New Years Day

Finch said Andrews was also “ very generous ” with the profits, as “ she informed her fellow waiters and the kitchen guys, and she also donated.

“ She works to cook turkey meals for two families over the holidays so she’s generous herself, ” he said of Andrews, who has worked at the restaurant for eight years. “ Donnie said pass it on, keep that positive stuff, so she’s trying to do that too. ”

Finch said Wahlberg’s move came at a critical time as his restaurant chain had “ struggled for the past eight months ” amid the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent closings.

“It was just very uplifting for everyone,” he said. “I, as the owner, have struggled for the past eight months. We have really tried to keep these doors open. We actually closed for a few months because it didn’t look good. But we reopened, and it was a blessing that we did … it’s just a really good feeling all around.

Donnie earlier this year made a similar gesture on New Years Day, as his wife Jenny McCarthy shared on Twitter. He also tipped big at the Waffle House chains.

Wahlberg is the father of sons Xavier, 27, and Elijah, 19, with his ex Kimberly Fey; and the stepfather of McCarthy’s 18-year-old son Evan Asher.

Blue Bloods, entering its 11th season, stars Wahlberg, Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, Len Cariou, Will Estes, Amy Carlson, Sami Gayle and Steve Schirripa.