ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- One local restaurant is aiming to make things a little easier for the community with a new 'pay it forward' voucher program.

The Garage at Rye in Elmira is now offering 'pay it forward' vouchers.  For $5, you can sponsor a meal for someone in need.  The vouchers will be hung on the wall in the restaurant for people to use, no questions asked. Similarly, if need be, you can buy a $5 meal for yourself by turning in an unpaid voucher to the cashier.

The vouchers will provide a sandwich, fruit, chips or a cookie, and a water.  The owner of The Garage, Charlie Hector, says no one should have to worry about being hungry, and wants to help build a sense of community in Elmira.  He said the program draws inspiration from a similar program at SKIP in Provincetown. 

"It's the feeling of that I still have of SKIP in Provincetown, doing this great work about creating community. First of all, its making people not ashamed of not being able to afford to eat and, secondly, its giving people a way to contribute," said Hector.

The Garage is also looking for a family in need to give one meal a week to.  Hector says if someone is going through a tragedy and needs a little helping hand, we'd like to buy them lunch to help out. People can buy vouchers online through The Garage at Rye's Facebook by clicking start order, or in person at the restaurant.  They will also be setting up a Venmo or Cashapp soon to allow people to pay it forward.