This New York Deli Will Give You Free Food If You Can Solve A Simple Math Equation

From Delish

Fact: Food tastes better when it’s free. And, if you can show off how smart you are while scoring free food, even better. Well, one deli in New York City is giving customers a chance to do just that with a fun game one of its cashiers invented.

Ahmed Alwan, 20, is a college student and cashier at Lucky Candy in the Bronx, who started playing a game two weeks ago with customers that’s now gone viral.

The game is simple, per CNN: Alwan asks a customer to solve a quick math problem and, if they answer correctly, they get five seconds to grab whatever they want off of the store’s shelves and keep it.

“All I wanted to do was to help people,” Alwan told CNN: “But I wanted to make it fun. So I made a TikTok and chose a challenge, asking them a math question. It’s a way to entertain and educate people in need while putting a smile on their face, too.”

Alwan has shared videos of his challenge on Instagram, too, and they’re hilarious. “Five, four, three—not my cat!” he shouted at one man who answered correctly and, yup, tried to grab his cat.

Another quick-thinking customer grabbed a tray and filled it up with ice creams and bread before the time ran out:

The equations are pretty simple, like “What’s five times time?” or “If you have 10 apples minus four oranges, how much apples does that leave you with?” Alwan often fudges his count-down, adding quarter counts and slowing down his timing to give customers time to grab more.

Alwan told CNN that he pays for what customers win out of his own pocket, and he does it to help low-income customers save their money for things like rent and utilities.

"It's great to see him do good and help out the community, and most importantly represent Islam," said his father Saleh Aobad. "It's impacting the business in a positive way, bringing awareness and attention to the store as well as spreading positivity throughout the community."

Alwan, who is studying to be a pharmacist, has also started a GoFundMe to help fund his game and “give back to the community.”

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